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: — Belgium, — Bulgaria, — Czech Republic, — Germany, — Estonia, — Ireland, — Greece, — Spain, — France, — Croatia, — Italy, — Cyprus, — Latvia, — Lithuania, — Luxembourg, — Hungary, — Netherlands, — Austria, — Poland, — Portugal, — Romania, — Slovenia, — Slovakia, — Finland, — Sweden.
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: — at the level of the Council, and — 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: (a) providing strategic direction and guidance for PESCO; (b) 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; (c) 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; (d) assessing the contributions of participating Member States to fulfil the agreed commitments, according to the mechanism described in Article 6; (e) 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; (f) 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; (g) 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 (h) 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: (a) 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; (b) 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: (a) 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; (b) 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.