(8)

In the same opinion, the PSC confirmed the view unanimously agreed by the project members of the PESCO project Military Mobility that Norway complies with the general conditions set out in Article 3 of Decision (CFSP) 2020/1639, as follows: — Norway meets the condition set out in Article 3(a), which requires: sharing of the values on which the Union is founded, as laid down in Article 2 of the Treaty, and the principles referred to in Article 21(1) of the Treaty, as well as the objectives of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) in points (a), (b), (c) and (h) of Article 21(2) of the Treaty; not contravening the security and defence interests of the Union and its Member States, including respect for the principle of good neighbourly relations with the Member States; and having a political dialogue with the Union, which should also cover security and defence aspects when participating in the PESCO project Military Mobility; — as regards the condition set out in Article 3(b) on the substantial added value of Norway to the PESCO project Military Mobility, the notification provides a detailed outline of Norway’s contribution, including on the scope, form and extent of its participation in that project, which substantiates the fulfilment of that condition; — as regards the condition set out in Article 3(c), Norway’s participation in the PESCO project Military Mobility will contribute to strengthening the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and the Union level of ambition including in support of CSDP missions and operations, as also specified in the notification; — as regards the condition set out in Article 3(d), the PESCO project Military Mobility does not address armament procurement, research and capability development, nor the use and export of arms or capabilities and technology. It does not develop any capability or technology. Consequently, Norway’s participation in that project will not lead to dependencies on Norway or to restrictions imposed by it against any Member State; — the required consistency, set out in Article 3(e), of Norway’s participation with the relevant more binding PESCO commitments, also regarding the deployability and interoperability of forces that this project is helping to fulfil, as specified in the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2017/2315, is also met, as further detailed in the notification. As the PESCO project Military Mobility is not a capability-orientated project, the condition concerning the contribution of Norway’s participation to fulfilling priorities derived from the Capability Development Plan and the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence or having a positive impact on the European Defence Technological Industrial Base is not applicable in this context; — the requirement set out in Article 3(f) is fulfilled, as a security of information agreement between the Union and Norway (4) has been in force since 1 December 2004; — the condition set out in Article 3(g) is not applicable in this case, as the PESCO project Military Mobility is not implemented with the support of the European Defence Agency and therefore an administrative arrangement which has taken effect with that Agency is not required; — as regards the condition set out in Article 3(h), Norway has committed to seeking to conclude a project-specific administrative arrangement and any other necessary project documentation in accordance with Council Decisions (CFSP) 2017/2315 and (CFSP) 2018/909 (5).