Signing and establishment of Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO)

Further information:

The signing of this notification took place in the margins of a Foreign Affairs Council meeting. The document was signed by 23 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. It was later handed over to the EU's High Representative on Foreign Policy.

The door remained open for other member states to join at a later stage. Portugal and Ireland did so and were included in the group of member states formally establishing PESCO on 11 December 2017.

Background information:

PESCO is a Treaty-based framework and process to deepen defence cooperation amongst EU Member States who are capable and willing to do so. It aims to enable Member States to jointly develop defence capabilities, invest in shared projects and enhance the operational readiness and contribution of their armed forces.

A group of 23 member states of the European Union signed on 13 November 2017 a joint notification regarding the launch of a Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) on defence.

The Council of the European Union formally established PESCO on 11 December 2017, comprising 25 EU countries.

European Commission: DG Communication: STATEMENT/17/4608, 13.11.17: European Commission welcomes steps towards Permanent Structured Cooperation http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-17-4608_en.htm

RFI, 14.11.17: Did the EU take its first step towards a common European army? http://en.rfi.fr/europe/20171114-did-eu-take-its-first-step-towards-common-european-army

Politico, 13.11.17: Mogherini hails ‘historic’ EU defense pact https://www.politico.eu/article/federica-mogherini-defense-hails-historic-eu-defense-pact-as-23-countries-sign-up/

Radio Poland, 10.11.17: Poland to join EU’s PESCO defence initiative: gov’t spokesman http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/334584

Radio Praha, 14.11.17: More than 20 European Union countries, including Czechia, back European defence plan http://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/more-than-20-european-union-countries-including-czechia-back-european-defence-plan

The Slovak Spectator, 13.11.17: Slovakia joins PESCO initiative https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20695566/slovakia-joins-pesco-initiative.html

RT, 13.11.17: NATO not enough? EU launches own military alliance https://www.rt.com/news/409724-eu-army-agreement-signed/

BBC News, 13.11.17: European Union gives impetus to joint defence plan http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41971867

Reuters, 08.11.17: EU to sign joint defense pact in show of post-Brexit unity https://www.reuters.com/idUSKBN1D81CT

Cyprus Mail, 12.11.17: Cyprus’ security enhanced with Pesco, Defence Minister says http://cyprus-mail.com/2017/11/12/cyprus-security-enhanced-pesco-defence-minister-says/

The Irish Times, 09.11.17: Government hopes to engage Ireland in new EU military framework https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/government-hopes-to-engage-ireland-in-new-eu-military-framework-1.3284395

Helsinki Times, 15.11.17: Soini: EU’s deepening defence co-operation one of best things the union can offer http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/15139-soini-eu-s-deepening-defence-co-operation-one-of-best-things-the-union-can-offer.html

Sputnik International, 15.11.17: 'Non-Aligned' Sweden Joins Fledgling European Military Alliance https://sptnkne.ws/fWUb

EurActiv, 24.10.17: [Opinion] EU is moving closer together on defence https://www.euractiv.com/section/defence-policy/opinion/eu-is-moving-closer-together-on-defence/

NATO: News, 13.11.17: NATO Secretary General welcomes PESCO, stresses need for complementarity https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_148840.htm

EU: EEAS: News, 13.11.17: Defence: 23 EU member states sign up for permanent structured cooperation https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/35496/

Deutsche Welle, 13.11.17: PESCO: EU paves way to defense union http://p.dw.com/p/2nXga

ESO: Find more information on the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) http://www.europeansources.info/advSearchLink?keyword=PESCO&searchOption=all

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 13.11.17: Defence cooperation: 23 member states sign joint notification on the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/11/13/defence-cooperation-23-member-states-sign-joint-notification-on-pesco/

Deutsche Welle, 11.12.17: Twenty-five EU states sign PESCO defense pact http://p.dw.com/p/2p8xI

The Independent, 14.12.17: Remaining EU countries agree to plan to integrate their military forces after Brexit http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/brexit-latest-eu-military-pesco-nato-integrate-army-a8111311.html

EurActiv, 15.12.17: ‘Bad news for enemies’: EU leaders officially launch defence pact https://www.euractiv.com/section/defence-policy/news/bad-news-for-enemies-eu-leaders-officially-launch-defence-pact/

The Irish Times, 14.12.17: [Opinion] Pesco makes us choose defence spending over housing homeless https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/pesco-makes-us-choose-defence-spending-over-housing-homeless-1.3327607

Malta Today, 15.12.17: Malta to ‘wait and see’ before deciding on PESCO defence pact, Muscat says http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/europe/83085/malta_to_wait_and_see_before_deciding_on_pesco_defence_pact_muscat_says

European Commission: Press Release, 11.12.17: European Commission welcomes first operational steps towards a European Defence Union http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-5205_en.htm

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 11.12.17: Defence cooperation: Council establishes Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), with 25 member states participating http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/12/11/defence-cooperation-pesco-25-member-states-participating/

Politico, 11.11.17: EU defense pact tests Portugal’s left-wing government alliance https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-defense-pact-tests-portugals-left-wing-government-alliance/

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