EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini confirmed, on Saturday 5 May, that member states taking part in permanent structured cooperation (PESCO) could adopt new projects by the end of this year.
After the informal meeting of defence ministers in Sofia, Mogherini explained: “We have decided to adopt a new wave of projects later this year. This shows the level of commitment but also satisfaction that member states have on the process we have launched”. She went on to add that “some member states already today have started to flag ideas or new projects that would be presented as PESCO projects towards the end of the year”.
At the end of February, the director general of the European Union’s Military Staff (EUMS), Esa Pulkkinen, announced that new projects were planned for November 2018, which would require a call for proposals in the spring (see EUROPE 11970).
When asked about third country participation in PESCO projects, Mogherini said she expected a decision would be taken by the end of the year. In her view, if decisions and legal acts on PESCO governance are taken in June, then member states may then “focus more in detail on the specific arrangements for participation – extraordinary participation – of third countries to PESCO projects”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)