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54-822: Together with the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD), the European Defence Fund and the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) it forms a comprehensive defence package for the EU. PESCO is similar to enhanced co-operation in other policy areas, in the sense that integration does not require participation of all EU member states. PESCO was first written into the European Constitution under Article III-312 , which failed ratification, and then into

108-609: A 2015 referendum . The CSDP opt-out originally meant Denmark would not be obliged to join the Western European Union (which originally handled the defence tasks of the EU). Later, it meant that Denmark did not participate in the European Union's foreign policy where defence was concerned. Hence, it did not take part in decisions, did not act in that area, and did not contribute troops to missions conducted under

162-483: A case-by-case opt-out similar to that held by Ireland and the United Kingdom (the latter until its exit from the EU ) by 53.1% to 46.9%. The third in 2022 , on abolishing the defence opt-out, took place on 1 June 2022 with 66.9% voting yes, and 33.1% voting no. As a result, as of November 2022, Denmark has had three opt-outs: the euro opt-out, the policing-justice opt-out, and the citizenship opt-out, of which

216-467: A certain extent, over ... I’ve experienced that in the last few days. We Europeans truly have to take our fate into our own hands.” In late 2016, the EU put defence co-operation on its post-Brexit Bratislava and Rome declarations. There was some disagreement between France and Germany about the nature of PESCO. France foresaw a small but ambitious group with serious capabilities making major practical leaps forward; while Germany, weary of further divisions in

270-466: A complete opt-out to the case-by-case opt-in version applying to Ireland and the United Kingdom (the latter until its exit from the EU) whenever they wish. The protocol governing this provision stipulates that if Denmark exercises this option, then it will be bound by the Schengen acquis under EU law rather than on an intergovernmental basis. The Danish electorate voted not to exercise these provisions in

324-552: A flexible opt-out following the next Danish general election due by September 2015, due to concerns that the opt-out would force Denmark to leave Europol . Several parties, including the two largest in parliament, the Social Democrats and Liberals, reached an agreement in December 2014 to hold the referendum following the upcoming election, but before the end of the first quarter of 2016, if they secured enough seats in

378-491: A list of 50 ideas and was whittled down to provide a short list of small-scale projects. Major armament projects are intended in the future (EU forces use 178 different weapon systems compared to 30 in the US), but initially PESCO is to be focused on smaller operations to lay groundwork. PESCO projects as of February, 2021 and participating countries by category: Control capabilities GMSCE Potential future PESCO projects include

432-610: A member of the European Parliament from 1994 to 2019, the US is lobbying strongly against increased military cooperation between EU member states, going as far as to directly invite MEPs to 'private dinners' to try to convince them to vote against any directives or laws that would seek to strengthen military cooperation within the EU. Despite opposition to PESCO, the United States expressed its desire to participate in

486-453: A process. PESCO would be inclusive, but not all states had to take part in all projects and progress would be phased allowing the development of new, common capabilities without having to resolve larger differences on end-goals first. Further, states would not need to already have capabilities, but merely pledge to work towards them. This allowed France's idea of improving military capabilities without shutting out states who did not already attain

540-530: A referendum before a certain amount of stability and order returned to the situation in Europe, possibly not before the end of the government's term, citing the "anxiety and uncertainty" surrounding the European project at the time. In August 2013, Lars Løkke Rasmussen , the leader of the opposition Venstre party proposed that a referendum on the opt-outs from EU defence and justice co-operation, as well as on

594-438: A referendum on abolishing its defence opt-out. The referendum took place on 1 June 2022, ending with the yes side winning by two thirds of the vote. Following the referendum Denmark formally notified the EU of its renunciation of its opt-out on defence matters on June 20, which became effective from 1 July. Frederiksen stated that despite the approval of the eliminating the defence opt-out, she did not plan to hold referendums on

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648-425: A referendum on abolishing its opt-out from the EU defence policy following the justice opt-out referendum. Danes rejected the proposal by a margin of 53.1% to 46.9%. In May 2019 Rasmussen again proposed a referendum on abolishing its defence opt-out during the following parliamentary term, though his party lost the general election the following month. Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine , Denmark held

702-495: A sign that the United States fears a loss of influence in Europe, as a militarily self-sufficient EU would make NATO increasingly irrelevant. Alongside better military cooperation, PESCO also seeks to enhance the defence industry of member states and create jobs within the EU, which several US politicians have criticised over fears of losing revenue from EU states (on average, the United States sells over €1 billion in weapons to EU countries per year). According to Françoise Grossetête ,

756-521: A subsequent election. Following the election in June 2015, Venstre formed government with Lars Løkke Rasmussen again becoming prime minister. He committed to holding the referendum on converting the justice opt-out into an opt-in by Christmas 2015. On 21 August 2015, the Danish government announced that the referendum would be held on 3 December 2015. The government has also said it is planning on holding

810-680: The 1st European Political Community Summit , British Prime Minister Liz Truss committed the United Kingdom to joining PESCO and its Military Mobility project. On 15 November 2022, the Council of the EU invited the UK to participate in the Military Mobility project. PESCO includes two of the three EU states that describe themselves as neutral (Austria and Ireland), and is designed to be as inclusive as possible by allowing states to opt in or out as their unique foreign policies allow. Some members of

864-464: The 2011 Danish parliamentary election . The V/K (Liberal-Conservative) government had been planning to hold a referendum on abolishing the opt-outs (or at least the euro opt-out) since at least 2004, following a favourable change in public opinion, but the discussions and controversy regarding the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe and the Treaty of Lisbon had delayed this. The referendum

918-533: The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine showed support for the country joining PESCO. While PESCO was formed in part due to doubts over the United States' commitment to NATO, officials stress that PESCO will be complementary to NATO security rather than in competition with it. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also highlighted how Military Mobility is a key example of NATO and EU co-operation. The United States has voiced concerns and published 'warnings' about PESCO several times, which many analysts believe to be

972-676: The European Defence Agency and PESCO, on 8 April 2022. Danish voters approved ending the opt-out in a 1 June 2022 referendum , which became effective 1 July. Subsequently the country proceeded to consider participating in PESCO, which was approved by Parliament in March 2023. The Council of the EU approved Denmark joining PESCO on 23 May 2023. Since November 2020, third countries can also participate in PESCO. [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Canada, Norway, and

1026-625: The European External Action Service (EEAS). After a  first trial run in 2017/2018, the first full implementation of CARD was launched in autumn 2019 and completed in November 2020 with a final report submitted to Defence Ministers meeting in EDA’s Steering Board. Together with Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) and the European Defence Fund (EDF), it forms a new comprehensive defence package for

1080-739: The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant caused the European migrant crisis . Russia intervened in Ukraine in 2014, annexing Crimea and triggering an ongoing conflict in the country over the Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement . In 2016, Donald Trump , who was elected as President of the United States , was critical of NATO allies, even refusing on several occasions to back the mutual defence clause; and

1134-463: The Treaty of Lisbon of 2009. It added the possibility for those members 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 EU framework. PESCO was seen as the way to enable the common defence foreseen in Article 42, but

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1188-536: The Unified Patent Court , leaving opt-outs from European citizenship and the euro, be held on the same date as the 2014 European election . The proposal was rejected by the Minister for European affairs, Nick Hækkerup , who argued that the timing was not right. In October 2014 Thorning-Schmidt announced plans to hold a referendum on converting the inflexible opt-out on home and justice matters into

1242-672: The citizenship of the European Union . With these opt-outs the Danish people accepted the treaty in a second referendum held in 1993 . The EMU opt-out means that Denmark is not obliged to participate in the third phase of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism , that is, to replace the Danish krone with the euro . The abolition of the euro opt-out was put to a referendum in 2000 and was rejected. The JHA opt-out exempts Denmark from certain areas of home affairs. Significant parts of these areas were transferred from

1296-638: The election in the autumn of 2011 . After the victory of the left-wing coalition under Thorning-Schmidt in the September 2011 elections , the new government announced that it planned to hold referendums on abolishing the defence opt-out and on either abolishing the justice opt-out or modifying it to a flexible opt-in like that of the United Kingdom and Ireland to allow Denmark to participate in measures which it chooses. However, in June 2012 Thorning-Schmidt announced that she didn't anticipate holding

1350-482: The CSDP but could potentially become PESCO projects: Coordinated Annual Review on Defence The Coordinated Annual Review on Defence ( CARD ) is a process of monitoring the defence plans of European Union (EU) member states to help coordinate spending and identify possible collaborative projects. It has operated on a test basis since 2017 under the European Defence Agency (EDA), in cooperation with

1404-481: The Council, which will approve based on a qualified majority of participating member states. 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 within the Union framework. Such cooperation shall be governed by Article 46. It shall not affect

1458-582: The Council, which will approve based on a qualified majority of participating member states: [REDACTED] Denmark originally had an opt-out from participating in the common defence policy. However, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Danish parliament adopted a proposal in favour of the country participating in the Common Security and Defence Policy , including

1512-400: The EU, wanted a more inclusive approach that could potentially include all states, regardless of their military capability or willingness to integrate. Further, for Germany, it was about building capabilities and giving a post-Brexit signal of unity, whereas France was focused on operations and looking for help for its overstretched African deployments. Their compromise was to re-imagine PESCO as

1566-533: The EU. In 2019–2020, the first full CARD cycle took place with EDA acting as the CARD penholder. The final CARD report was presented to Defence Ministers in November 2020. It identifies a total of 55 collaborative opportunities throughout the whole capability spectrum and 56 options to cooperate in R&;T. The second CARD cycle will be launched in December 2021 when each Member State will meet individually with EDA and

1620-598: The EUMS to discuss their defence profile and related plans for the future in the EU context. A new CARD report is expected for November 2022. Danish opt-outs from the European Union Denmark holds opt-outs from European Union policies in relation to police and justice and the adoption of the euro . They were secured under the Edinburgh Agreement in 1992 after a referendum for

1674-488: The Irish Parliament considered Ireland joining PESCO as an abandonment of neutrality. The measure was passed, with the government arguing that its opt-in nature allowed Ireland to "join elements of PESCO that were beneficial such as counter-terrorism, cyber security and peace keeping ... what we are not going to be doing is buying aircraft carriers and fighter jets." While critics of Ireland's participation point to

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1728-506: The Military Mobility project in 2021. European analysts have suggested that this might pose an attempt to undermine an independent European defence policy from within. The European Defence Agency and European External Action Service act as PESCO's secretariat. The projects are incentivised by the European Commission ’s European Defence Fund . There is a two-layer governance structure: The first PESCO projects started with

1782-517: The United Kingdom, one of the EU's two largest military powers, voted in a referendum to withdraw from the EU . This new environment, while very different from the one PESCO was designed for, gave new impetus to European defence cooperation. The withdrawal of the UK, historically an opponent of that cooperation, gave further hope of success. At a rally in Bavaria, Angela Merkel argued that: “The times in which we could completely depend on others are, to

1836-472: The United States have applied to participate in the project to improve military mobility in Europe. Norway had been active in past EU military operations. The EU governments will soon decide on the applications in a multi-stage admission process. [REDACTED] In May 2021, Turkey ( Turkey ) applied to participate in the Military Mobility project, but this was opposed by Austria in addition to

1890-487: The appointment of Anders Fogh Rasmussen as Secretary General of NATO in 2009, his successor, Lars Løkke Rasmussen , announced that the opt-outs would be put to a referendum "when the time is right", which was seen as an indication that he did not necessarily intend to proceed with a referendum. A month later, in May 2009, Løkke Rasmussen stated that he hoped at least a referendum on the common currency would take place before

1944-516: The approval of a Council Decision. Denmark did not participate as (prior to its abolition in July 2022) it had an opt-out from the Common Security and Defence Policy , nor did the United Kingdom, which withdrew from the EU in 2020. Malta opted out as well, due to concerns it might conflict with its neutrality. As per Article 46 of the TEU, non-participating EU member states can request to join by notifying

1998-488: The auspices of the European Union. In a June 2022 referendum , the Danish electorate voted to fully abolish this opt-out and begin participating in the EU's defence operations as of 1 July 2022; hence, this opt-out in no longer in force. The citizenship opt-out stated that European Union citizenship did not replace Danish national citizenship; this opt-out was rendered obsolete when the Amsterdam Treaty adopted

2052-503: The commitment to increase defence spending, the government has made clear that the 2% commitment is collective, and not for each state individually. The Irish government has made clear that any defence spending increase by Ireland would be minor. Malta, the only neutral state not to participate, argued that it was going to wait and see how PESCO develops, in order to see whether it would compromise Maltese neutrality. [REDACTED] In Switzerland , an opinion poll conducted two months after

2106-400: The decision only the states already part of the PESCO will participate. If a participating state no longer fulfills the criteria a decision suspending its participation is taken by the same procedure as for accepting new participants, but excluding the concerned state from the voting procedure. If a participating state wishes to withdraw from PESCO it just notifies the Council to remove it from

2160-489: The election. This was supplemented by an agreement in March 2015 amongst the parties that if the referendum is approved, Denmark would join 22 EU regulations it is currently not able to participate in, including the Rome Regulation . To join additional Regulations, the agreement requires either consensus amounts the parties to the agreement, or that the proposal is made public as part of the party's platform prior to

2214-610: The existing tensions with Greece and Cyprus. In June 2022, Finland and Sweden committed to "support the fullest possible involvement of Turkey and other non-EU Allies in the existing and prospective initiatives of the European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy, including Turkey's participation in the PESCO Project on Military Mobility" in a trilateral memorandum agreed to at the 2022 Madrid summit to facilitate Turkey's ratification of Finland and Sweden 's NATO membership application. [REDACTED] On 6 October 2022, at

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2268-491: The following existing intergovernmental cooperations between member states' militaries, presently outside the CSDP framework: Forces and command centres: Bodies fostering integration: Other initiatives of the Common Security and Defence Policy established after the introduction of the European Union Global Strategy : Other 'European' defence organisations that are currently not part of

2322-539: The last has been superfluous since the Amsterdam Treaty in 1997. Denmark originally obtained four opt-outs from the Maastricht Treaty following the treaty's initial rejection in a 1992 referendum . These opt-outs are outlined in the Edinburgh Agreement and concern the Economic and monetary union (EMU), the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), Justice and Home Affairs (then JHA, now PJCC) and

2376-593: The list of participants. All other decisions and recommendations of the Council concerning PESCO issues unrelated to the list of participants require a unanimous vote of the participating states. The criteria established in the PESCO Protocol are the following: The following member states have announced their intention of participating in PESCO: As per Article 46 of the TEU, the following non-participating EU member states can request to join by notifying

2430-741: The other remaining opt-outs. A poll from early June 2008 saw a clear majority in favour of repealing the defence and judicial issues opt-outs, a very close race regarding the euro and a clear majority against repealing the citizenship opt-outs. Following an increase in support for abolishing the opt-outs, support dropped in mid-May 2009; in January 2009, 49.8% were in favour of having the Euro as Danish currency, dropping to 45.2% against and 43.7% in favour in May 2009. Support for abolishing opt-outs on legal and defence cooperation has also dwindled to equal numbers pro and against. Afterwards support for abolishing

2484-528: The parliamentary elections in 2011 so that Denmark could become "a full member of the European Union", and to give him a popular mandate in the negotiations over the Competitiveness Pact in the Summer of that year. The Prime Minister's suggestion was criticised by Jens Ladefoged Mortensen, a political scientist, who claimed that the time for a referendum was ill-chosen, pointing out that Denmark

2538-476: The provisions of Article 43. Those states shall notify their intention to the Council and to the High Representative . The Council then adopts, by qualified majority a decision establishing PESCO and determining the list of participating Member States. Any other member state that fulfills the criteria and wishes to participate can join the PESCO following the same procedure, but in the voting for

2592-428: The ratification of the Maastricht Treaty was rejected by Danish voters, as a package of measures to assuage concerns raised during that referendum. The Danish government has held three referendums on modifying its opt-outs. The first in 2000 rejected the adoption of the euro by 53.2% to 46.8% on a turnout of 87.6%. The second in 2015 rejected converting Denmark's current full opt-out on home and justice matters into

2646-422: The same provisions for all EU members. One or more referendums on abolishing one or more the opt-outs were announced by Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen in his speech on 22 November 2007 after he won the 2007 parliamentary election . It was not announced whether the referendum would only offer a full repeal of all opt-outs, or a case-by-case choice, and no date was announced, except that it would be before

2700-607: The scepticism towards further integration that had arisen around the rejection of the European Constitution meant its activation was unlikely. It was termed, by President Jean-Claude Juncker , the Lisbon Treaty's " sleeping beauty ". In the 2010s, the geopolitical landscape around the EU began to change, triggering a series of crises. The Libyan Civil War , the Syrian Civil War and the rise of

2754-475: The third European Union pillar to the first under the Amsterdam Treaty ; Denmark's opt-outs from these areas were kept valid through additional protocols. Acts made under those powers are not binding on Denmark except for those relating to the Schengen Agreement , which are instead conducted on an intergovernmental basis with Denmark. Under the Treaty of Lisbon , Denmark can change its opt-out from

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2808-498: The threshold. On 7 September 2017, an agreement was made between EU foreign affairs ministers to move forward with PESCO with 10 initial projects. The agreement was signed on 13 November by 23 of the 28 member states. Ireland and Portugal notified the High Representative and the Council of the European Union of their desire to join PESCO on 7 December 2017 and PESCO was activated by the 25 states on 11 December 2017 with

2862-601: Was originally expected to be held in the autumn of 2008 but following Ireland's rejection of the Treaty of Lisbon , Fogh Rasmussen stated that this would not happen. In early 2009, it was announced that Fogh Rasmussen expected to hold a referendum on Denmark joining the Eurozone in 2010, as he believed it was possible to meet the demands of the Euro-sceptic Socialist People's Party . Following

2916-542: Was set to hold general elections later that year. In November 2009 the leaders of the three largest opposition parties Helle Thorning-Schmidt , Villy Søvndal and Margrethe Vestager suggested that a referendum on abolishing the opt-outs concerning the Common Security and Defence Policy and the Justice and Home Affairs be held on 23 March 2010. Ultimately, no referendum was held and Løkke Rasmussen's coalition lost

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