In a letter addressed to the political leadership of the Ministry of National Defense and to the deputies of the Parliament’s Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs, the Panhellenic Federation of Military Trade Unions (POMENS) requests the inclusion of the Bulgarian Hellenic Force in special missions of high operational responsibility, except the Area of Responsibility of the Chief of the General Staff, in the context of the country’s national obligations in the implementation of NATO-EU decisions, with a compensation of one hundred and twenty euros per day.
This is the anti-tank (AT) platoon of special composition (ELDYVO) that was deployed to the neighboring country as part of the NATO Battle Formation Bulgaria “NATO eVA (Enhanced Surveillance Activity) Bulgaria”, in the context of the country’s NATO obligations.
According to the aforementioned document “the daily monetary allowances of the personnel of the states participating in the Battle Formation in Bulgaria are:
- Albania: 80 euros each,
- North Macedonia: 92 euros each,
- Greece: 40.50 euros each,
- Italy: Commander 130 euros, Lieutenant Colonel 93 euros, Sergeants 85 euros,
- Croatia: 95 euros each
- Montenegro: Dimiritis 93 euros, others 85 euros,
- Romania: Lieutenant Captain 141 euros, Sub-Lieutenant 131 euros, Sergeants 121 euros.
With a pertinent decision by SAGE, executives who carry out special missions in the territory are paid sixty euros (60 Euros) per day.
From the above, it can be concluded that Army personnel participating in special internal missions (dealing with asymmetric threats due to migration flows in the Evros, border reinforcement, etc.) receive higher remunerations than personnel located outside Greece.
The reason for the participation of the platoon in question is to receive a combat mission “outside the organization of the Armed Forces” under the orders of the Italian colonel commander, with readiness to receive a combat mission within a few hours, thus “executing a special mission of high operational responsibility”.
“It should be noted that the activation of combat groups in Europe occurred after the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war,” the relevant document adds.
“There is a large and huge financial deficit of the staff serving at ELDYVO, which creates feelings:
– injustice towards Greek colleagues carrying out special missions in the territory,
– unequal treatment compared to Greek colleagues serving in other military missions abroad,
-inferiority in relation to other national missions participating in the same Battle Group. Unfortunately, we have noted that there have been cases of mockery by military personnel from other countries, due to the “undecent” compensation of military personnel from the Greek mission.
Following the above, we request the inclusion of ELDYVO personnel in special missions of high operational responsibility of (c) relevant, outside the PE A/GEETHA, in the context of the country’s national obligations in the implementation of NATO-EU decisions, with an indemnity of one hundred and twenty euros (120 euros) per day”, concludes POMENS.