In Athens , General Graziano discussed with the military and political leaderships about subjects of common interest in the field of security and defence, as well as the role of the EU in addressing the current threats in the Global scenario. In particular, the Chairman had the opportunity to meet with the Minister of Defence, Mr Panaghiotopoulos,

the National Security Advisor, Vice Admiral Alexandros Diakopoulos and the Chief of General Staff, Gen. Floros.

During their meeting, they discussed the international security environment, focusing on the wider area of the Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa and the Middle East.

In addition, the CEUMC was briefed on Greece's defence policy, as well as on the major Greek issues and priorities in a national, cross-border and European context with emphasis on PESCO programs and Greece's participation in them.

"A stronger, United European Union, which knows how to use the language of power, also to avoid that the security vacuum unfilled by International Organizations becomes the target of single actors" the Chairman pointed out during the meetings.

General Graziano also highlighted that today's crisis cannot be addressed by only one single power tools, in isolation: "While there is no military solution to crisis – he said - no crisis can be solved without the military component, meaning the employment of military means, to a proper degree."

During his staying in Athens, the Chairman of the EUMC delivered lectures on the role of the EU in the global security arena at the Hellenic National Defence College.

General Graziano gave the participants his perception of the security scenarios the EU and the International Community are currently facing trying to stress the sense of urgency to react that those scenarios are raising, a sense of urgency that needs to be widely communicated and understood.