In the context of the defence related events of the Hellenic Presidency of the Council of the EU, organized by the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, under the aegis of the Hellenic Ministry of Defence, the ‘’Security and Crisis Management International Conference ATHENA” will take place in Athens, from the 17^th to the 19^th of June 14.

The aim of this event is for the participants, to exchange views on issues related to security and on methods, procedures and capabilities available to the international community to address crisis management in the wider geopolitical and geostrategic environment. The pool of participants for this Conference is consisted of high level military and civilian personnel who represent respective Nations’ competent crisis management authorities, international organizations, institutes for strategic studies and international relations, as well as relevant actors and institutions in Greece.

As a back to back event, a Conference on Common Security & Defence issues, tailored to Flag and Senior Officers of EU Member States Armed Forces, is organized in Athens on 19 June 2014.

The aim of the latter Conference is to provide the aforementioned EU Member States Armed Forces personnel with the appropriate information and an update on issues and developments in the wider context of Common Security and Defence Policy and on more specific defence oriented issues in the same field. Discussions will take place in the aftermath and in the spirit of the December 2013 European Council Conclusions on European defence, taking into account the evolving developments in the EU’s strategic periphery, during this 1st semester of 2014.