IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECTS OF PERMANENT STRUCTURED COOPERATION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION SECURITY AND DEFENSE: PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES (Review Article)

The article clarifies the key features of the implementation of projects within the framework of PESCO and their prospects, taking into account the coronavirus pandemic and the fact that the Russian-Ukrainian war since 2014 has gone beyond the regional framework and affected the foundations of international and European security. It also analyzes the PESCO Strategic Review 2020 and the guidelines for the PESCO next phase (2021–2025) in terms of overall purpose, key policy objectives, processes, and incentives to improve the implementation of more pressing commitments. The paper emphasizes that, according to the Strategic Review, 26 out of 46 projects will have been fully completed by 2025. These projects include a cyber academy and innovation centre, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear surveillance, crisis response operations, secure software-configured radio communications, medical command, military mobility, a network of logistics centres, and rapid response teams in cyberspace. The author has singled out the challenges on the way to the implementation of PESCO projects. It is about the disparity and inconsistency of such projects, the duration of their implementation and the need for coordination, financial challenges for the security and defence of the EU caused by both, the pandemic and the full-scale invasion of Russia into Ukraine. It is important that PESCO needs a clear transition to eliminate the shortcomings of strategic potential and openness for the full participation of non-EU members, including the UK. The establishment of PESCO is related to an ultimate need of a more effective defence of Europe, as well as significant results providing enhanced actions’ coordination and cooperation in the field of investment, capacity building and operational readiness. Expanded cooperation in these areas will allow reducing the number of different weapon systems in Europe and, as a result, will strengthen the operational interaction among the member states of the European Union. At the same time, these projects should be flexible and provide the opportunity for a growing number of states ((mainly, associated ones or candidate countries including Ukraine) to fully participate.