Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence

The Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence (Greek: Κυβερνητικό Συμβούλιο Εξωτερικών και Άμυνας), usually known by its acronym KYSEA (ΚΥΣΕΑ), is the supreme decision-making body on issues of foreign policy and national defence of Greece. It was established in 1986 by initiative of then-Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou. Since its creation, its composition has changed many times.

Composition

After the latest overhaul of its membership in July 2012, it comprises:

• the Prime Minister of Greece as chairman
• the Deputy Prime Minister of Greece (if the office exists)
• the Minister for Foreign Affairs
• the Minister for Finance
• the Minister for National Defence
• the Minister for the Interior
• the Minister for Administrative Reform and e-Governance
• the Minister for the Environment, Energy and Climate Change
• the Minister for Public Order and Citizen Protection
• the Minister of State
• the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff

As non-voting members:

• the General Secretary to the Prime Minister
• the heads of the Strategy Planning Office and Diplomatic Office of the Prime Minister's Political Office
• the Prime Minister's Defence Advisor

The General Secretary of the Government performs the functions of secretary of the KYSEA.