On Monday 25 June, the Council of the EU adopted the governance rules base for projects developed as part of permanent structured cooperation (PESCO), in order to provide a “framework” ensuring “coherent implementation compatible with PESCO projects”.
The decision clarifies in particular the role of the PESCO secretariat and the internal organisation of projects. Thus, “those participating in projects agree, unanimously, on arrangements and the scope of their cooperation as well as on rules for management of the project”, the decision states, also covering the participation of member states as observers. The “exceptional” participation of third states in PESCO projects is not part of the decision and should be the subject of a decision “in principle” in November, according to conclusions on security and defence (see other article).
A further wave of projects should also be adopted in November. In its conclusions, the Council encourages member states to “make other ambitious proposals to meet the EU’s operational needs and priorities agreed on capability development”.
The list of PESCO projects will be re-examined and updated by the Council each year “in November at the latest” and once a year the Council will be duly informed by project participants of developments in the respective PESCO projects.
The Council should also, “in principle” in July, according to conclusions on security and defence, adopt a recommendation on the staggering of implementation of the most binding commitments taken by member states participating in the PESCO programme, as well as on the definition of more specific objectives.
Furthermore, on the sidelines of the Council, Lithuania, Croatia, Romania, Spain, the Netherlands and Estonia signed a declaration of intent concerning one of the PESCO projects, the EU’s rapid response cyber force. They could be joined by three countries by the end of the year. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)