COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2017/2315

of 11 December 2017

establishing permanent structured cooperation (PESCO) and determining the list of participating Member States

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, in particular Article 46(2) thereof,

Having regard to Protocol No 10 on permanent structured cooperation established by Article 42 of the Treaty on European Union attached to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of European Union,

Having regard to the proposal from the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic and the Italian Republic,

Having regard to the opinion of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the High Representative),

Whereas:

Article 42(6) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) provides that those Member States whose military capabilities fulfil higher criteria, and which have made more binding commitments to one another in this area with a view to the most demanding missions shall establish permanent structured cooperation (PESCO) within the Union framework.

On 13 November 2017, the Council and the High Representative received a joint notification in accordance with Article 46(1) of the TEU from 23 Member States, and on 7 December 2017 from two other Member States, that all those Member States have the intention to participate in PESCO on the basis that they satisfy the abovementioned requirements and that they have made the more binding commitments to one another in this area as set out in the Annex to this Decision and on the basis of all the other elements in the notification, including the preamble and the guiding principles of PESCO set out in Annex I to the notification, to which they remain committed in its entirety, and also recalling Article 42 of the TEU, including Article 42(7) (1) .

The more binding commitments set out in the Annex to this Decision, are consistent with the achievement of the objectives set out in Article 1 of Protocol No 10 to the Treaties and the undertakings referred to in Article 2 of that Protocol.

The decision of Member States to participate in PESCO is voluntary and does not in itself affect national sovereignty or the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States. Contributions by the participating Member States to fulfil the more binding commitments under PESCO will be made in accordance with their applicable constitutional provisions.

Increasing joint and collaborative defence capability development projects is among the binding commitments under PESCO. Such projects may be supported by contributions from the Union budget in compliance with the Treaties and in accordance with relevant Union instruments and programmes.

The participating Member States have set out in their respective National Implementation Plans their ability to meet the more binding commitments they have made to one another.

The necessary conditions having been met, it is therefore appropriate for the Council to adopt a decision establishing PESCO.

Any other Member State which wishes at a later stage to participate in PESCO may notify its intention to do so to the Council and to the High Representative in accordance with Article 46(3) of the TEU.

There should be consistency between actions undertaken within the framework of PESCO and other CFSP actions and other Union policies. The Council and, within their respective areas of responsibility, the HR and the Commission, should cooperate in order to maximise synergies where applicable.

In accordance with Article 5 of Protocol No 22 on the position of Denmark annexed to the TEU and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Denmark does not participate in the elaboration and the implementation of decisions and actions of the Union which have defence implications. Denmark is therefore not bound by this Decision,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Establishment of permanent structured cooperation

Permanent structured cooperation (PESCO) within the Union framework is hereby established between those Member States whose military capabilities fulfil higher criteria as referred to in Article 1 of Protocol No 10, and which have made commitments to one another in this area as referred to in Article 2 of that Protocol, with a view to the most demanding missions, and contributing to the fulfilment of the Union level of ambition.

Article 2

Participating Member States

The Member States participating in PESCO shall be the following:

Article 3

More binding commitments in accordance with Protocol No 10

1. To achieve the objectives set out in Article 1 of Protocol No 10 and the undertakings referred to in Article 2 of that Protocol, the participating Member States shall make contributions which fulfil the more binding commitments which they have made to one another as set out in the Annex.

2. For this purpose, participating Member States shall review annually, and shall update as appropriate, their National Implementation Plans, in which they are to outline how they will meet the more binding commitments, specifying how they will fulfil the more precise objectives that are to be set at each phase. The updated National Implementation Plans shall be communicated annually to the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the European Defence Agency (EDA), and shall be made available to all participating Member States.

Article 4

PESCO Governance

1. The governance of PESCO shall be organised:

in the framework of projects implemented by groups of those participating Member States which have agreed among themselves to undertake such projects.

2. Acting in accordance with Article 46(6) of the TEU, the Council shall adopt decisions and recommendations:

sequencing the fulfilment of the more binding commitments set out in the Annex in the course of the two consecutive initial phases (the years 2018-2020 and 2021-2025) and specifying at the beginning of each phase the more precise objectives for the fulfilment of the more binding commitments set out in the Annex;

updating, and enhancing if necessary, the more binding commitments set out in the Annex in light of achievements made through PESCO, in order to reflect the Union's evolving security environment. Such decisions shall be taken in particular at the end of the phases referred to in point (b) of paragraph 2, based on a strategic review process assessing the fulfilment of the PESCO commitments;

assessing the contributions of participating Member States to fulfil the agreed commitments, according to the mechanism described in Article 6;

establishing the list of projects to be developed under PESCO, reflecting both support for capability development and the provision of substantial support within means and capabilities to Common Security and Defence Policy operations and missions;

establishing a common set of governance rules for projects, which the participating Member States taking part in an individual project could adapt as necessary for that project;

establishing, in due time, in accordance with Article 9(1), the general conditions under which third States could exceptionally be invited to participate in individual projects; and determining in accordance with Article 9(2) whether a given third State satisfies these conditions; and

providing for any other measures required to further implement this Decision.

Article 5

PESCO Projects

1. Following proposals by the participating Member States which intend to take part in an individual project, the High Representative may make a recommendation concerning the identification and evaluation of PESCO projects, on the basis of assessments provided in accordance with Article 7, for Council decisions and recommendations to be adopted in accordance with Article 4(2)(e), following military advice by the Military Committee of the European Union (EUMC).

2. Participating Member States which intend to propose an individual project shall inform the other participating Member States in due time before presenting their proposal, in order to gather support and give them the opportunity to join in collectively submitting the proposal.

The project members shall be the participating Member States which submitted the proposal. The list of the project members of each individual project shall be attached to the Council decision referred to in Article 4(2)(e).

The participating Member States taking part in a project may agree among themselves to admit other participating Member States which subsequently wish to take part in the project.

3. The participating Member States taking part in a project shall agree among themselves on the arrangements for, and the scope of, their cooperation, and the management of that project. The participating Member States taking part in a project shall regularly inform the Council about the development of the project, as appropriate.

Article 6

Supervision, assessment and reporting arrangements

1. The Council, within the framework of Article 46(6) TEU, shall ensure the unity, consistency and effectiveness of PESCO. The High Representative shall also contribute to those objectives.

2. The High Representative shall be fully involved in proceedings relating to PESCO, in accordance with Protocol No 10.

3. The High Representative shall present an annual report on PESCO to the Council. This report shall be based on the contributions by the EDA, in accordance with Article 7(3)(a), and by the EEAS, in accordance with Article 7(2)(a). The High Representative's report shall describe the status of PESCO implementation, including the fulfilment, by each participating Member State, of its commitments, in accordance with its National Implementation Plan.

The EUMC shall provide the Political and Security Committee with military advice and recommendations regarding to the annual PESCO assessment process.

On the basis of the annual report on PESCO presented by the High Representative, the Council shall review once a year whether the participating Member States continue to fulfil the more binding commitments referred to in Article 3.

4. Any decision concerning the suspension of the participation of a Member State shall be adopted in accordance with Article 46(4) TEU only after the Member State has been given a clearly defined timeframe for individual consultation and reaction measures.

Article 7

Support by the EEAS and the EDA

1. Under the responsibility of the High Representative, also in his or her capacity as the Head of the EDA, the EEAS, including the EU Military Staff (EUMS), and the EDA shall jointly provide the necessary secretariat functions for PESCO other than at the level of the Council, and in this regard a single point of contact.

2. The EEAS, including the EUMS, shall support the functioning of PESCO in particular by:

contributing to the High Representative's assessment, in his or her annual report on PESCO, of participating Member States' contributions with regard to operational aspects, in accordance with Article 6;

coordinating the assessment of project proposals envisaged in Article 5, notably in the areas of availability, interoperability, flexibility and deployability of forces. In particular, the EEAS, including the EUMS, shall assess proposed projects' compliance with, and their contribution to, operational needs.

3. The EDA shall support PESCO in particular by:

contributing to the High Representative's assessment, in his or her annual report on PESCO, of participating Member States' contributions, in accordance with Article 6, with regard to capabilities, in particular contributions made in accordance with the more binding commitments referred to in Article 3;

facilitating capability development projects, in particular coordinating the assessment of projects proposals envisaged in Article 5, notably in the area of capability development. In particular, EDA shall support Member States in ensuring that there is no unnecessary duplication with existing initiatives also in other institutional contexts.

Article 8

Financing

1. Administrative expenditure of the Union institutions and the EEAS arising from the implementation of this Decision shall be charged to the Union budget. Administrative expenditure of the EDA shall be subject to the relevant financing rules of the EDA in accordance with Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/1835 (2).

2. Operating expenditure arising from projects undertaken within the framework of PESCO shall be supported primarily by the participating Member States that take part in an individual project. Contributions from the general budget of the Union may be made to such projects in compliance with the Treaties and in accordance with the relevant Union instruments.

Article 9

Participation of third States in individual projects

1. The general conditions for the participation of third States in individual projects shall be specified in a Council decision adopted in accordance with Article 4(2), which may include a template for administrative arrangements with third States.

2. The Council shall decide in accordance with Article 46(6) TEU whether a third State, which the participating Member States taking part in a project wish to invite to take part in that project, meets the requirements set out in the decision referred to in paragraph 1.

3. Following a positive decision as referred to in paragraph 2, the participating Member States taking part in a project may enter into administrative arrangements with the third State concerned for the purpose of its taking part in that project. Such arrangements shall respect the procedures and the decision-making autonomy of the Union.

Article 10

Security rules

The provisions set out in Council Decision 2013/488/EU (3) shall apply in the context of PESCO.

Article 11

Entry into force

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

(1) The notification is published together with this Decision (see page 65 of this Official Journal).

(2) Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/1835 of 12 October 2015 defining the statute, seat and operational rules of the European Defence Agency (OJ L 266, 13.10.2015, p. 55).

(3) Council Decision 2013/488/EU of 23 September 2013 on the security rules for protecting EU classified information (OJ L 274, 15.10.2013, p. 1).

Ensure that the cooperation programmes - which must only benefit entities which demonstrably provide added value on EU territory - and the acquisition strategies adopted by the participating Member States will have a positive impact on the EDTIB.

Ensure that all projects with regard to capabilities led by participating Member States make the European defence industry more competitive via an appropriate industrial policy which avoids unnecessary overlap.

Commitment to the use of EDA as the European forum for joint capability development and consider the OCCAR as the preferred collaborative program managing organisation.

take part, where appropriate, in the development of major joint or European equipment programmes in the framework of the European Defence Agency.’

Take part in at least one project under the PESCO which develops or provides capabilities identified as strategically relevant by Member States.

Consider as a priority a European collaborative approach in order to fill capability shortcomings identified at national level and, as a general rule, only use an exclusively national approach if such an examination has been already carried out.

Help to overcome capability shortcomings identified under the Capability Development Plan (CDP) and CARD. These capability projects shall increase Europe's strategic autonomy and strengthen the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB).

work together to ensure that they take the necessary measures to make good, including through multinational approaches, and without prejudice to undertakings in this regard within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the shortfalls perceived in the framework of the “Capability Development Mechanism”.’

Participating Member States will strive for an ambitious approach to common funding of military CSDP operations and missions, beyond what will be defined as common cost according to the Athena council decision.

Optimising multinational structures: participating Member States could commit to joining and playing an active role in the main existing and possible future structures partaking in European external action in the military field (EUROCORPS, EUROMARFOR, EUROGENDFOR, MCCE/ATARES/SEOS).

Commitment to agree on common technical and operational standards of forces acknowledging that they need to ensure interoperability with NATO.

Commitment to agree on common evaluation and validation criteria for the EU BG force package aligned with NATO standards while maintaining national certification.

With regard to interoperability of forces, the participating Member States are committed to:

Substantially contributing to EU BG by confirmation of contributions in principle at least four years in advance, with a stand-by period in line with the EU BG concept, obligation to carry out EU BG exercises for the EU BG force package (framework nation) and/or to participate in these exercises (all EU Member States participating in EU BG).

Providing substantial support within means and capabilities to CSDP operations (e.g. EUFOR) and missions (e.g. EU Training Missions) - with personnel, materiel, training, exercise support, infrastructure or otherwise - which have been unanimously decided by the Council, without prejudice to any decision on contributions to CSDP operations and without prejudice to any constitutional constraints,

Developing a solid instrument (e.g. a data base) which will only be accessible to participating Member States and contributing nations to record available and rapidly deployable capabilities in order to facilitate and accelerate the Force Generation Process.

Making available formations, that are strategically deployable, for the realisation of the EU LoA, in addition to a potential deployment of an EUBG. This commitment does neither cover a readiness force, a standing force nor a stand by force.

With regard to availability and deployability of the forces, the participating Member States are committed to:

take concrete measures to enhance the availability, interoperability, flexibility and deployability of their forces, in particular by identifying common objectives regarding the commitment of forces, including possibly reviewing their national decision-making procedures.’

Commitment to ensure increasing efforts in the cooperation on cyber defence, such as information sharing, training and operational support.

Commitment to considering the joint use of existing capabilities in order to optimise the available resources and improve their overall effectiveness.

Commitment to the intensive involvement of a future European Defence Fund in multinational procurement with identified EU added value.

Commitment to support the CARD to the maximum extent possible acknowledging the voluntary nature of the review and individual constraints of participating Member States.

Playing a substantial role in capability development within the EU, including within the framework of CARD, in order to ensure the availability of the necessary capabilities for achieving the level of ambition in Europe.

bring their defence apparatus into line with each other as far as possible, particularly by harmonising the identification of their military needs, by pooling and, where appropriate, specialising their defence means and capabilities, and by encouraging cooperation in the fields of training and logistics.’

Establishment of a regular review of these commitments (with the aim of endorsement by the Council).

Increasing the share of expenditure allocated to defence research and technology with a view to nearing the 2 % of total defence spending (collective benchmark).

Increasing joint and ‘collaborative’ strategic defence capabilities projects. Such joint and collaborative projects should be supported through the European Defence Fund if required and as appropriate.

Successive medium-term increase in defence investment expenditure to 20 % of total defence spending (collective benchmark) in order to fill strategic capability gaps by participating in defence capabilities projects in accordance with CDP and Coordinated Annual Review (CARD).

Based on the collective benchmarks identified in 2007, participating Member States subscribe to the following commitments:

cooperate, as from the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, with a view to achieving approved objectives concerning the level of investment expenditure on defence equipment, and regularly review these objectives, in the light of the security environment and of the Union's international responsibilities.’

List of ambitious and more binding common commitments undertaken by participating Member States in the five areas set out by Article 2 of Protocol 10

Notification on permanent structured cooperation (PESCO) to the Council And to the high representative of the Union for foreign affairs and security policy

Preamble

The participating Member States,

Recalling that the Union is pursuing a common foreign and security policy based on the achievement of ‘an ever-increasing degree of convergence of Member States' actions’ (Art. 24(2) TEU) and that the common security and defence policy (CSDP) is an integral part of the common foreign and security policy;

Considering that the common security and defence policy provides the Union with operational capacity drawing on civil and military assets and that the strengthening of the security and defence policy will require efforts by Member States in the area of capabilities;

Recalling also the commitment of the European Union and its Member States to the promotion of a rules-based global order with multilateralism as its key principle and the United Nations at its core;

Recalling Article 42(6) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) according to which those ‘Member States whose military capabilities fulfil higher criteria and which have made more binding commitments to one another in this area with a’ view to the most demanding missions ‘shall establish permanent structured cooperation (PESCO) within the Union framework’;

Considering that PESCO could significantly contribute to fulfilling the EU's Level of Ambition including with a view to the most demanding missions and operations and that it could facilitate the development of Member States' defence capabilities through an intensive involvement in multinational procurement projects and with appropriate industrial entities including small and medium sized enterprises, and strengthen European defence cooperation, while making full use of the Treaties;

Taking into account the objectives of permanent structured cooperation and Member States' undertakings to achieve them as laid out in Protocol No. 10 on Permanent Structured Cooperation and referred to in Article 46 of the TEU;

Noting that the European Council held on 15 December 2016 concluded that Europeans must take greater responsibility for their security and that, in order to strengthen Europe's security and defence in a challenging geopolitical environment and to better protect its citizens, confirming previous commitments in this respect, the European Council stressed the need to do more, including by committing sufficient additional resources, while taking into account national circumstances, legal commitments, and for Member States which are also members of NATO, relevant NATO guidelines on defence expenditure;

Recalling further that the European Council also called for reinforcing cooperation in the development of required capabilities as well as committing to making such capabilities available when necessary, and that it maintained that the European Union and its Member States must be able to contribute decisively to collective efforts, as well as to act autonomously when and where necessary and with partners wherever possible;

Considering that the European Council of June 2017 called for the joint development of capability projects commonly agreed by Member States to fill the existing major shortfalls and develop the technologies of the future is crucial to fulfil the level of ambition of the EU approved by the European Council in December 2016; welcomed the Commission's communication on a European Defence Fund, composed of a research window and a capability window; and called on Member States to identify suitable capability projects for the European Defence Fund and for the European Defence Industrial Development Programme;

Recalling in particular that the European Council asked the High Representative to present proposals as regards elements and options for an inclusive Permanent Structured Cooperation based on a modular approach and outlining possible projects;

Recalling that the Foreign Affairs Council on 6 March 2017 agreed on the need to continue work on an inclusive Permanent Structured Cooperation based on a modular approach, which should be open to all Member States who are willing to make the necessary binding commitments and meet the criteria, based on articles 42 (6) and 46 and Protocol 10 of the Treaty;

Determined to reach a new level in the progressive framing of a common Union defence policy as called for in Article 42(2) of the TEU through the establishment of permanent structured cooperation within the Union framework; while taking into consideration the specific character of the security and defence policy of all Member States;

Recalling the obligation under Article 42(7) TEU of mutual aid and assistance;

Recalling that in line with Article 42(7) of the Treaty on European Union commitments and cooperation in the area of Common Security and Defence Policy ‘shall be consistent with commitments under the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, which, for those States which are members of it, remains the foundation of their collective defence and the forum for its implementation’;

Emphasizing that the European Council on 22/23 June 2017 agreed on the need to launch an inclusive and ambitious Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO)’ and responding to the European Council's mandate to draw up within three months ‘a common list of criteria and binding commitments fully in line with Articles 42(6) and 46 TEU and Protocol 10 to the Treaty - including with a view to the most demanding missions […], with a precise timetable and specific assessment mechanisms, in order to enable Member States which are in a position to do so to notify their intentions to participate without delay’;

HEREBY NOTIFY the Council and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of their intention to participate in Permanent Structured Cooperation;

CALL UPON the Council to adopt a decision establishing permanent structured cooperation, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Treaty on European Union and Protocol 10 to the Treaty, and on the basis of the principles specified in Annex I, the common more binding commitments contained in Annex II as well as the proposals for governance contained in Annex III;

SHALL SUBMIT, before the adoption by the Council of the decision establishing PESCO, a national implementation plan demonstrating their ability how to meet the more binding commitments contained in Annex II.

Done at Brussels on the thirteenth day of November in the year two thousand and seventeen. Voor het Koninkrijk België Pour le Royaume de Belgique Für das Königreich Belgien За Република България Za Českou republiku Für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland Eesti Vabariigi nimel Για την Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Por el Reino de España Pour la République française Za Republiku Hrvatsku Per la Repubblica italiana Για την Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία Latvijas Republikas vārdā – Lietuvos Respublikos vardu Pour le Grand-Duché de Luxembourg Magyarország részéről Voor het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden Für die Republik Österreich W imieniu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej Pentru România Za Republiko Slovenijo Za Slovenskú republiku Suomen tasavallan puolesta För Republiken Finland För Konungariket Sverige

* Ireland notified on 7 December 2017 its intention to the Council and the High Representative to participate in PESCO and associated itself with this joint Notification.

* The Portuguese Republic notified on 7 December 2017 its intention to the Council and the High Representative to participate in PESCO and associated itself with this joint Notification.

ANNEX I - PRINCIPLES OF PESCO ‘Permanent Structured Cooperation’ is provided for in Articles 42 and 46 of the Treaty on European Union and Protocol No 10 to the Treaty. It can only be activated once and is established by a Council decision to be adopted by qualified majority, in order to bring together all willing Member States in the area of defence, ‘whose military capabilities fulfil higher criteria’ and which have made ‘more binding commitments with a view to the most demanding missions’ and operations. PESCO is an ambitious, binding and inclusive European legal framework for investments in the security and defence of the EU's territory and its citizens. PESCO also provides a crucial political framework for all Member States to improve their respective military assets and defence capabilities through well-coordinated initiatives and concrete projects based on more binding commitments. Enhanced defence capabilities of EU Member States will also benefit NATO. They will strengthen the European pillar within the Alliance and respond to repeated demands for stronger transatlantic burden sharing. PESCO is a crucial step towards strengthening the common defence policy. It could be an element of a possible development towards a common defence should the Council by unanimous vote decide so (as provided for in article 42.2 TEU). A long term vision of PESCO could be to arrive at a coherent full spectrum force package - in complementarity with NATO, which will continue to be the cornerstone of collective defence for its members. We consider an inclusive PESCO as the most important instrument to foster common security and defence in an area where more coherence, continuity, coordination and collaboration are needed. European efforts to this end must be united, coordinated, and meaningful and must be based on commonly agreed political guidelines. PESCO offers a reliable and binding legal framework within the EU institutional framework. Participating Member States will meet their binding commitments, confirming that the establishment and implementation of Permanent Structured Cooperation will be undertaken in full compliance with the provisions of the TEU and the protocols attached thereto and respecting constitutional provisions of the member States. The binding nature of PESCO commitments will be ensured by an annual regular assessment conducted by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and supported, in particular, by the European Defence Agency (EDA), for the capability development aspects (notably described in Article 3 of Protocol 10), and EEAS, including EUMS and other CSDP structures, for the operational aspects of PESCO. Through PESCO, the Union could work towards a coherent full spectrum force package as PESCO would add top-down coordination and guidance to existing or future bottom-up structures and lines of efforts. PESCO would provide opportunities for Member States to improve defence capabilities through participation in well-coordinated initiatives and concrete common projects, potentially capitalising on existing regional clusters. Participation in PESCO is voluntary and leaves national sovereignty untouched. An inclusive PESCO is as a strong political signal towards our citizens and the outside world: governments of EU Member States are taking common security and defence seriously and pushing it forward. For EU citizens it means more security and a clear sign of willingness of all Member States to foster common security and defence to achieve the goals set by EU Global Strategy. PESCO will be output oriented and should enable tangible progress on the level of investment expenditure on defence equipment, collaborative capability development goals and the availability of deployable defence capabilities for combined missions and operations acknowledging the single set of forces principle. The main driver of PESCO capability development will be the fulfilments of the capability shortfalls related to the EU Level of Ambition and Common Security and Defence Policy objectives and priorities. The ‘inclusive’ and ‘modular’ nature of the PESCO, as described by the European Council in December 2016, must not lead to cooperation being levelled down. The objective of an ‘ambitious’ PESCO underlines the need for all PESCO participating Member States to comply with a common list of objectives and commitments. As recalled by the June 2017 European Council, PESCO is ‘inclusive and ambitious’. The following list of commitments must help to reach the level of ambition of the EU as defined in the Council conclusions of 14 November 2016, endorsed by the December 2016 European Council, and thus strengthen the strategic autonomy of both Europeans and the EU.

ANNEX II - LIST OF AMBITIOUS AND MORE BINDING COMMON COMMITMENTS IN THE FIVE AREAS SET OUT BY ARTICLE 2 OF PROTOCOL NO 10 ‘(a) cooperate, as from the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, with a view to achieving approved objectives concerning the level of investment expenditure on defence equipment, and regularly review these objectives, in the light of the security environment and of the Union's international responsibilities.’ Based on the collective benchmarks identified in 2007, participating Member States subscribe to the following commitments: 1. Regularly increasing defence budgets in real terms, in order to reach agreed objectives. 2. Successive medium-term increase in defence investment expenditure to 20 % of total defence spending (collective benchmark) in order to fill strategic capability gaps by participating in defence capabilities projects in accordance with CDP and Coordinated Annual Review (CARD). 3. Increasing joint and ‘collaborative’ strategic defence capabilities projects. Such joint and collaborative projects should be supported through the European Defence Fund if required and as appropriate. 4. Increasing the share of expenditure allocated to defence research and technology with a view to nearing the 2 % of total defence spending (collective benchmark). 5. Establishment of a regular review of these commitments (with the aim of endorsement by the Council). ‘(b) bring their defence apparatus into line with each other as far as possible, particularly by harmonising the identification of their military needs, by pooling and, where appropriate, specialising their defence means and capabilities, and by encouraging cooperation in the fields of training and logistics.’ 6. Playing a substantial role in capability development within the EU, including within the framework of CARD, in order to ensure the availability of the necessary capabilities for achieving the level of ambition in Europe. 7. Commitment to support the CARD to the maximum extent possible acknowledging the voluntary nature of the review and individual constraints of participating Member States. 8. Commitment to the intensive involvement of a future European Defence Fund in multinational procurement with identified EU added value. 9. Commitment to drawing up harmonised requirements for all capability development projects agreed by participating Member States. 10. Commitment to considering the joint use of existing capabilities in order to optimize the available resources and improve their overall effectiveness. 11. Commitment to ensure increasing efforts in the cooperation on cyber defence, such as information sharing, training and operational support. ‘(c) take concrete measures to enhance the availability, interoperability, flexibility and deployability of their forces, in particular by identifying common objectives regarding the commitment of forces, including possibly reviewing their national decision-making procedures.’ 12. With regard to availability and deployability of the forces, the participating Member States are committed to: — Making available formations, that are strategically deployable, for the realization of the EU LoA, in addition to a potential deployment of an EUBG. This commitment does neither cover a readiness force, a standing force nor a stand by force. — Developing a solid instrument (e.g. a data base) which will only be accessible to participating Member States and contributing nations to record available and rapidly deployable capabilities in order to facilitate and accelerate the Force Generation Process. — Aiming for fast-tracked political commitment at national level, including possibly reviewing their national decision-making procedures. — Providing substantial support within means and capabilities to CSDP operations (e.g. EUFOR) and missions (e.g. EU Training Missions) - with personnel, materiel, training, exercise support, infrastructure or otherwise - which have been unanimously decided by the Council, without prejudice to any decision on contributions to CSDP operations and without prejudice to any constitutional constraints. — Substantially contributing to EU BG by confirmation of contributions in principle at least four years in advance, with a stand-by period in line with the EU BG concept, obligation to carry out EU BG exercises for the EU BG force package (framework nation) and/or to participate in these exercises (all EU Member States participating in EU BG). — Simplifying and standardizing cross border military transport in Europe for enabling rapid deployment of military materiel and personnel. 13. With regard to interoperability of forces, the participating Member States are committed to: — Developing the interoperability of their forces by: — Commitment to agree on common evaluation and validation criteria for the EU BG force package aligned with NATO standards while maintaining national certification. — Commitment to agree on common technical and operational standards of forces acknowledging that they need to ensure interoperability with NATO. — Optimizing multinational structures: participating Member States could commit to joining and playing an active role in the main existing and possible future structures partaking in European external action in the military field (EUROCORPS, EUROMARFOR, EUROGENDFOR, MCCE/ATARES/SEOS). 14. Participating Member States will strive for an ambitious approach to common funding of military CSDP operations and missions, beyond what will be defined as common cost according to the Athena council decision. ‘(d) work together to ensure that they take the necessary measures to make good, including through multinational approaches, and without prejudice to undertakings in this regard within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the shortfalls perceived in the framework of the ‘Capability Development Mechanism.’’ 15. Help to overcome capability shortcomings identified under the Capability Development Plan (CDP) and CARD. These capability projects shall increase Europe's strategic autonomy and strengthen the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB). 16. Consider as a priority a European collaborative approach in order to fill capability shortcomings identified at national level and, as a general rule, only use an exclusively national approach if such an examination has been already carried out. 17. Take part in at least one project under the PESCO which develops or provides capabilities identified as strategically relevant by Member States. ‘(e) take part, where appropriate, in the development of major joint or European equipment programmes in the framework of the European Defence Agency.’ 18. Commitment to the use of EDA as the European forum for joint capability development and consider the OCCAR as the preferred collaborative program managing organization. 19. Ensure that all projects with regard to capabilities led by participating Member States make the European defence industry more competitive via an appropriate industrial policy which avoids unnecessary overlap. 20. Ensure that the cooperation programmes - which must only benefit entities which demonstrably provide added value on EU territory - and the acquisition strategies adopted by the participating Member States will have a positive impact on the EDTIB.