{"id":39218,"date":"2019-05-14T10:01:20","date_gmt":"2019-05-14T10:01:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2019\/05\/14\/european-unions-defense-collab-push-could-fizzle-report-warns\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:10:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:10:42","slug":"european-unions-defense-collab-push-could-fizzle-report-warns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/europe\/2019\/05\/14\/european-unions-defense-collab-push-could-fizzle-report-warns\/","title":{"rendered":"European Union\u2019s defense-collab push could fizzle, report warns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

COLOGNE, Germany \u2013 A collection of European Union initiatives for improving the bloc\u2019s military prowess is at risk of failure unless member countries tighten the reins on how the projects are managed, a new think thank study has found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The analysis by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies calls for reforms in the so-called PESCO framework, which is short for Permanent Structure Cooperation. European defense leaders have touted PESCO and its funding mechanisms, including the envisioned multibillion-dollar European Defense Fund, as a major breakthrough in consolidating military capabilities scattered across EU member states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To date, participating member states have launched 34 projects, one batch in March 2018 and another in November. Their objectives target aspects across the spectrum of military capabilities, everything from software-defined radios to reconnaissance airships to maritime security, cyber operations and military logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the efforts \u201cseem to face common challenges related to stakeholder coordination, funding, and importantly, an understanding of what the projects are actually meant to achieve,\u201d IISS researchers write in an upcoming report. In addition, many of the projects examined by the analysts come without a clear understanding of how the results would \u201chelp in relation to EU missions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese risks raise the real possibility that PESCO may become yet another missed opportunity on the long road to more integrated European defense cooperation,\u201d states the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

European Union officials plan to add yet more projects by this summer. At the same time, IISS researchers argue that the collection of initiatives is ripe for weeding out those with little promise of success. Notably, programs that existed before coming under the PESCO umbrella show the greatest signs of progress, according to the analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tossing out certain initiatives will become even more necessary if it becomes clear that the full plate could exhaust available funding, Yvonni-Stefania Efstathiou, one of the authors, told Defense News. \u201cWhat happens if the funding doesn’t come through? What happens if you have to prioritize?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe noticed that there is a lot of talk about launching projects,\u201d Efstathiou said about the impetus for the study. \u201cBut we heard little on implementation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t