05/11/2019 (Agence Europe) – Ambassadors of the EU Member States will discuss on Wednesday 6 November the "general conditions under which non-member states could exceptionally be invited to participate in individual projects of permanent structured cooperation" (PESCO). Member States have been discussing non-member state participation for months, without reaching agreement and while America is putting pressure on Europe on this issue (see EUROPE 12280/9). According to one source, the Twenty-Eight are "not too far from an agreement". "The objective is to define the rules for non-member states to be involved on a case-by-case basis, under specific conditions and as exceptions", the source summarised to EUROPE. It is rare for defence matters to be discussed at the level of Permanent Representatives. They are normally discussed by the ambassadors of the Political and Security Committee. (CG)