High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell considers it “crucial” that participating Member States reach agreement on the Council recommendation specifying more precise objectives for each of the more binding commitments for the second initial phase of Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) from 2021 to 2025 (see EUROPE 12580/14).
“Delaying such an agreement will only increase the risk of a negative impact on PESCO implementation during its second initial phase”, explains the High Representative in his Annual Report on the Status of PESCO Implementation, dated 6 July and transmitted to delegations on 7 July—a copy of which was received by EUROPE. “Successful implementation requires a collective and individual effort by all participating Member States”, warns Mr Borrell.
More generally, while “positive trends and improvements are clearly in evidence this year” with regard to PESCO implementation, participating Member States are encouraged to “maintain and further intensify their efforts to meet all more binding commitments, including the more precise objectives and progress indicators set for each commitment” (see EUROPE 12606/1).
According to the High Representative, Member States are expected to maintain the positive trend in defence expenditure and investment in line with the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) recommendations (see EUROPE 12606/2). Moreover, they are expected to intensify their efforts to achieve the agreed collective benchmarks where European collaborative defence equipment procurement and European collaborative defence research and technology are concerned.
Similarly, Member States are expected to make greater use of the CARD recommendations on defence planning and defence cooperation with regard to the commitments related to bringing the defence apparatus in line with each other and closing capability shortfalls.
Member States are also “strongly encouraged” to increase, “within their means and capabilities”, their contributions to the operational aspects of PESCO, notably as regards the availability of deployable forces. A clear, transparent consensus must be reached on the use of NATO standards for the interoperability of participating Member States’ forces and on the connection with EU defence standardisation initiatives, the report adds.
Harkening back to the projects developed under PESCO, the High Representative recommends continuing to use the EU planning and capability development tools to identify and generate future project proposals. “For the coming years and the visibility of success of PESCO, it is of utmost importance to successfully implement the current PESCO projects in order to deliver the expected output and products in time”, he warns. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)