The Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias meets with GSEE Management Board on the institution of active reservist

The Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias meets with GSEE Management Board on the institution of active reservist

September 24, 2025

The Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, had a meeting on Wednesday 24 September 2025 with the President of the Greek General Confederation of Workers (GSEE) Giannis Panagopoulos, as part of social partners' information on major changes implemented in National Defence through the "Agenda 2030" reform, as well as in the field of reserve forces.

The meeting was also attended by the Secretary General Nikos Fotopoulos, the Deputy Secretary General Athanasios Danousis, the Secretary for Organization Vangelis Moutafis, the Secretary for Finance Giorgos Georgakopoulos, the member of the Executive Committee Antonis Karras, the Secretary for Communication and Social Media Giorgos Christopoulosand the General Director of the Institute of Labor (INE) / GSEE Christos Goulas.

The Minister of National Defence informed in particular the Management Board of the Greek General Confederation of Workers about the major changes promoted by the institution of active reservist.

As Minister Dendias said, the new institution of active reservist provides for the voluntary participation of reservists, soldiers and officers to it.

It was further noted that the Country is in need of a qualitatively upgraded reserve force and the integration of the Citizens' Army into our national defence planning.

In this context, the establishment of a framework ensuring the unhindered participation of working reservists to tactical trainings and exercises is sought, without their employment and social security rights -let alone their career prospects- being affected or at stake.

During the meeting, Mr. Dendias noted that the reserve system constitutes a link between the Armed Forces and citizens in the value chain and stressed that the practical support of workers is required for the implementation of the institution.

He also highlighted that he counts on the support of this effort through today's meeting, for which he thanked the President Mr. Giannis Panagopoulos and the GSEE Management Board and stressed that further contacts with social partners on the support of the institution of reservist shall therefore continue.

The GSEE President Giannis Panagopoulos committed himself to support this effort on active reservist and to take all necessary initiatives in concert with all other social partners.

It should be recalled that the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV), following its meeting with Mr. Dendias, unanimously accepted the request that day wages are normally paid to reservists on the days of their participation to the active reservist activities.