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\u003cp style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003e Between March and November 2018, the 25 participating member states launched 34 projects, with the core aim of addressing the EU’s capability shortfalls. In May 2019, a call for a third round of project proposals will be launched.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eThe IISS undertook an early assessment of how PESCO projects are carried out, to assess whether the momentum on the ground has continued since the projects were announced at the political level. A strong pace of implementation would require detailed timelines, deadlines and financial plans, as well as clear links with EU capability requirements.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eQuestionnaires were sent to the projects’ country leads, and were complemented by interviews and secondary-source research. We looked at various dimensions of implementation: timelines, financial commitments, stakeholder involvement and the projects’ relation to strategic autonomy. The results are mixed. While some projects are off to a strong start, there are common challenges for all:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eProjects that do not relate to armament programmes do not have clear deadlines. Yet, credible timelines are key to show commitment and keep momentum going.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eAlmost all projects rely on the European defence industrial development programme (EDIDP) and future European Defence Fund (EDF) for financial resources. This raises the issue of whether the pot will be large enough for all, and how the European Commission and member states will prioritise funding.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eThe involvement of the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) and the European Defence Agency (EDA) in some of the main projects raises the risk of PESCO duplicating existing institutional arrangements.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eWhile PESCO is heading in the right direction on capability shortfalls, current projects are far from covering all existing gaps.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eAnother key finding from this research is that projects most advanced on all dimensions are those that were already under way at the multilateral level before PESCO started. This suggests that PESCO for now is mainly an extraneous and reassuring label, and a means to provide extra funding to existing programmes.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eThis paper therefore shows that there is a risk that PESCO might be yet another missed opportunity on the road to more integrated European defence cooperation. To avoid this outcome, key recommendations include:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eParticipating member states (pMS) and EU institutions should first agree to clearly prioritise and develop those projects that focus on capability gaps, and are certain to secure either EDIDP/EDF or member states’ funding.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003epMS should accelerate the implementation of those priority projects.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli style=\u0022text-align: justify;\u0022\u003eThe third round of projects should very clearly address the most significant capability shortfalls that the EU faces.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e","className":"richtext reading--content font-secondary"}), document.getElementById("react_ohaMnWUNiEKDj9xqha1kw"))});
The Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) is a new initiative by the EU, designed to facilitate and accelerate defence cooperation. The IISS assess whether the momentum on the ground continued since the projects were announced at the political level.\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c/div\u003e
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