At the Greece–France Economic Forum “Together for a Stronger, More Competitive Europe,” Mr. Evangelos Mytilineos, Executive Chairman of METLEN, participated in Roundtable 2 on “Defense Industries.”
The panel also featured Nicolas Groult, CEO of KNDS; Christian Hadjiminas, Founder & CEO of THEON International, Founder of EFA GROUP and President of EENE; and Pierre-Eric Pommellet, Chairman & CEO of Naval Group.
In his remarks, Mr. Mytilineos highlighted the profound transformations reshaping the European defense landscape, noting that each country’s defense posture is largely determined by its geopolitical environment. He emphasized that cooperation between French and Greek industry is the outcome of long-standing bilateral relations built over decades. As he pointed out, alliances are evolving, with an increasing number of countries strengthening direct cooperation, while the Greece–France partnership stands as a characteristic example of aligned strategic interests. In this context, he underlined that the traditional model of defense procurement in Europe from the United States is shifting, with bilateral and regional collaborations playing an increasingly decisive role in strengthening Europe’s industrial base.
He placed particular emphasis on the capabilities of Greek industry, noting that German submarines were constructed in Volos approximately 20 years ago and continue to contribute to the balance in the Aegean today. He expressed the view that Greece requires new submarines and can act as an equal industrial partner. He further noted that “cooperation on the fourth frigate should have commenced earlier.” He stressed that Greece possesses the necessary expertise and can contribute to co-production schemes, including advanced programs such as the Barracuda, not only for the domestic market but also for third countries, while observing that outcomes could have been even stronger had such initiatives been launched earlier.
He also referred to the long-standing cooperation with the German side of KNDS, spanning 25 years, underlining that during the Greek crisis (2010–2020), the company’s defense sector was sustained through such partnerships. As he noted, there is now a solid foundation for further development, including with the French side, through joint projects and expanded collaboration.
Mr. Mytilineos also highlighted the role of European industry, noting that Greek and European companies can leverage their significant expertise and capabilities. Through OEM partnerships, a high level of technology and know-how transfer has been achieved, creating mutually beneficial conditions. He further noted that while there is experience in submarine construction, the next generation requires advanced technologies, at a time when demand is increasing and there is a need for enhanced production capacity, specialized human capital, and well-structured partnerships capable of successfully delivering high-specification projects.
Finally, it is worth noting that during the panel, both the CEO of KNDS and the Chairman & CEO of Naval Group commended METLEN for the cooperation to date, expressing their expectation for further synergies and new joint projects in the future.
