On Tuesday 12 November, Ministers of Defence are expected to adopt 13 new projects in the framework of Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO).
The 13 projects reportedly include cybernetics, maritime, air, intelligence and training. “There are a number of projects whose characteristic feature is that they are increasingly ambitious; this shows that structured cooperation is progressing”, said a diplomatic source.
With 34 projects already underway, this would bring the number to 47. “I don’t think it’s a problem that there's a long list of projects, but it makes sense to have projects that lead to results”, explained another source. A review of Permanent Structured Cooperation is expected to be launched at the end of March 2020 and concluded at the end of 2020.
The EU Council is expected to come back to the participation of non-Member States in PESCO projects. While some hoped for an agreement earlier this week, discussions continue. Ambassadors of the Member States discussed it on Wednesday 6 November for the first time. But the question of the participation of entities from non-Member States is still open. “The important thing is to find a good solution, if possible, quickly”, explained one diplomat, adding that it was necessary to agree on the participation of these entities. “There are several texts on the table, different sensitivities, we have to combine them”, he added.
More broadly, Ministers will discuss security and defence-related issues, with a particular focus on coherence between EU defence initiatives (PESCO, the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence [CARD] and the European Defence Fund, in particular).
Last June, in conclusions, the EU Council called for further efforts to further increase synergies, coherence and mutual reinforcement with a view to strengthening cooperation in the field of defence (see EUROPE 12276/8).
According to one source, one of the questions is whether the EU has all the necessary tools to make progress in the development of European defence from a capability and operational point of view.
CSDP. The ministers will then discuss CSDP missions, particularly in the Sahel, as the security situation there deteriorates. “The situation is increasingly worrying, Member States are aware that we need to do better or mobilise more”, according to one diplomat. Some Member States would like to develop the support of troops trained by EUTM missions, to be a little closer to the field of operation. But this development requires additional human resources, while it is already difficult to find sufficient staff for some missions.
The EU Council could also review naval operations – while the strategic review of Operation Atalanta is scheduled for the end of the year – and ongoing work on coordinated, maritime presences (see EUROPE 12316/1). The French proposal for a mission with European states in the Strait of Hormuz could also be discussed.
NATO. Finally, Ministers will have lunch with NATO Assistant Secretary General Mircea Geoana to discuss EU-Alliance cooperation, military mobility, joint exercises and the state of political dialogue. French President Emmanuel Macron’s comments on the brain death of NATO should be on everyone’s mind (see EUROPE 12365/31). For his part, Mr Geoana could inform Europeans about the progress of preparations for the Alliance’s next summit, on 3 and 4 December in London.
EDA. The Defence Council will be preceded by the Steering Group of the European Defence Agency (EDA). The meeting will be an opportunity to discuss mainly Member States’ expectations before the first report of the annual coordinated annual defence review is presented to the Steering Group in November 2020. The first full annual cycle of the CARD started in September 2019.
The Steering Group is expected to adopt the EDA’s budget and staffing table for 2020, as well as the Agency’s 3-year planning framework for 2020-2022. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)