The intention of this paper is to analyze, which parts of the PESCO framework have the potential to impact European defence positively in terms of efficiency and which potential fault lines towards efficiency lie in it. Moreover, the intention is to observe the developments since the launch of PESCO in 2017 regarding the question of efficiency and to work out how to overcome current problems and ensure PESCO`s future success. Finally, the paper intends to examine to what extend a coexistence of PESCO and the NATO is useful.
To ensure a good understanding of PESCO, it will be shortly presented. Furthermore, the binding common commitments of PESCO, which the participating Member States have agreed on, as well as other essential parts of the PESCO framework, will be highlighted. To work out, whether and how PESCO is an efficient way to coordinate European defence, the following steps will be invested: Firstly, it will be defined what characterizes an efficient way to organize defence, especially in the context of defence cooperation. To do so, a set of factors that regularly lead to an in- or decrease in efficiency in such cooperations is going to be integrated. Secondly, these factors will be applyed to the aims and objectives the participating Member States have committed to, which form the framework of PESCO.
To continue, the current situation of PESCO after 5 years and 4 waves of projects will be examined and observed, where the worked-out factors for efficiency or inefficiency and other difficulties occur. Next, ways to solve current challenges, discrepancies, ensure more efficiency and the success of PESCO in general are given. To examine to what extent a coexistence of PESCO and NATO is useful, the relationship between the EU and NATO, the European dependency on NATO, ways PESCO and NATO complement each other and possible fault lines between the cooperations will be observed.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. What is PESCO?
2.1. Historic developments and influences
2.2. Responsibilities and competences of EU Institutions and Member States
2.3. PESCO’s objectives
2.4. PESCO projects
3. What characterizes an efficient solution to European defence?
4. Potential of the PESCO framework to in- or decrease efficiency
4.1. Potential for increase
4.2. Potential for decrease
5. State of the cooperation: Is there a trend towards efficiency in the first four waves?
5.1. A culture of non-compliance
5.2. No sense of unity
5.3. Integration of national projects
5.4. Lack of focus on larger projects
5.5. Making the European defence market more competitive
5.6. Strengthening the European defence industry
6. Reacting to challenges and increasing the chances of PESCO’s success
7. Just another alliance? PESCO vs. NATO
7.1. Reliability and dependencies in the EU-NATO-partnership
7.2. How PESCO and NATO complement each other
7.3. Economic preferment: a fault line between the cooperations?
8. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines whether the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) framework holds the potential to act as an efficient solution for European defence cooperation. It analyzes how PESCO impacts efficiency, investigates how current operational challenges can be resolved to ensure success, and explores the utility of a coexistence between PESCO and NATO.
- Analysis of the PESCO framework's potential impact on European defence efficiency.
- Evaluation of developments since the launch of PESCO in 2017.
- Identification of factors causing in- or decreased efficiency in defence cooperation.
- Investigation of the relationship and potential coexistence between PESCO and NATO.
Excerpt from the book
1. Introduction
“She is awake, the Sleeping Beauty of the Lisbon Treaty: Permanent Structured Cooperation is happening” announced Jean-Claude Juncker (2017), President of the European Commission at the time, on the launch of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) in 2017 via Twitter.
By waking her up, leaders in the European Union (EU) have responded to the wish of “European citizens […] [for] more Europe in security and defense policy” and “the need […] to protect their citizens better against security threats emanating from within and outside the EU’s borders” (Ehle 2018: 261; Blockmans 2018: 1785).
However, it is striking, that such a need is claimed to exist, as the European countries altogether spend over 280 billion US dollars on defense each year, which would be “the second largest defense spending in the world after the U.S.” if Europe was a single country (Tangör 2021: 83). In terms of military personnel, Europe’s 1.8 million soldiers even outnumber the 1.3 million in the US (Tangör 2021: 83).
But even though “[d]efence spending is [even] going up in nearly all European states”, no European state is able to acquire a sufficient amount of capabilities to be able to defend itself or even make any impact on its own (Biscop 2018a: 173).
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: Outlines the emergence of PESCO and highlights the paradoxical situation of high European defence spending paired with insufficient autonomous capability.
2. What is PESCO?: Details the historical context, the institutional framework, and the objectives behind the Permanent Structured Cooperation.
3. What characterizes an efficient solution to European defence?: Defines efficiency in the context of defence policy, identifying factors such as cost sharing and economies of scale.
4. Potential of the PESCO framework to in- or decrease efficiency: Analyzes how PESCO’s structural arrangements could either drive efficiency or create new obstacles.
5. State of the cooperation: Is there a trend towards efficiency in the first four waves?: Critically reviews PESCO’s implementation status, noting challenges like non-compliance and lack of unity.
6. Reacting to challenges and increasing the chances of PESCO’s success: Discusses necessary policy adjustments and governance improvements to secure PESCO's future.
7. Just another alliance? PESCO vs. NATO: Examines the synergy and potential conflicts between the EU's PESCO and the NATO alliance.
8. Conclusion: Summarizes findings, confirming that while PESCO has potential, its success remains dependent on ambitious and coordinated Member State implementation.
Keywords
PESCO, European Defence, CSDP, NATO, Efficiency, Security Policy, Defence Spending, Military Cooperation, European Union, Capability Development, European Defence Fund, Coordination, Interoperability, Procurement, Integration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic work?
The paper evaluates the efficiency of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) in the context of European defence and whether it can effectively address existing capability gaps.
What are the central themes discussed?
Key themes include the institutional framework of PESCO, the meaning of efficiency in defence policy, the role of national vs. common projects, and the evolving relationship with NATO.
What is the main research question?
The central question is whether PESCO truly possesses the potential to be an efficient solution for enhancing European defence cooperation and how this can be achieved.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The author employs a qualitative analysis, reviewing the PESCO framework against identified efficiency factors such as cost sharing, economies of scale, and industry competitiveness.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body covers the political and institutional setup of PESCO, an analysis of efficiency drivers, reviews of the first "waves" of projects, and an assessment of its strategic relationship with NATO.
Which keywords characterize this paper?
Primary keywords include PESCO, European Defence, CSDP, NATO, Efficiency, Defence Spending, Military Cooperation, and Capability Development.
How does the author view the 'Sleeping Beauty' analogy used for PESCO?
The author uses it to contextualize PESCO's activation after long dormancy, illustrating the political urgency to finally integrate European defence policy.
What is the significance of the distinction between 'front states' and 'outsiders'?
It highlights the differing strategic priorities and threat perceptions among EU Member States, which significantly impacts the unity and implementation of PESCO projects.
Why might PESCO be criticized for creating industrial monopolies?
The paper discusses the risk that bundled procurement and industrial policy intended to strengthen the EU defence market could inadvertently limit competition, leading to higher costs.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2022, A critical analysis of PESCO’s potential to be an efficient solution to European defence cooperation, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1364415
