"This year has been fruitful in Europe on such as important issue for society as security", says María Dolores de Cospedal

The minister highlighted the steps towards European integration on defence issues taken so far this year. "An agreement was also reached on the permanent capabilities for planning and running military campaign, which means that defence policy is monitored over time", on the European Defence Fund and on a Special Action Plan in this field.

María Dolores de Cospedal underlined that cooperation between the European Union and NATO is also being studied at these meetings. "There was a great deal of reticence in this regard in the past, since some parties considered that efforts were being duplicated, but it is not a question of duplication but rather of harnessing our capabilities to work together on policies that are important for European citizens. Henceforth, the limitations we came across in regard to European defence will no longer exist. This step has been transcendental".

"Spain, together with France, Germany and Italy, has been one of the main driving forces behind PESCO", highlighted the minister, who acknowledged the work of Federica Mogherini, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, "whose work has been decisive".

The minister also claimed that "PESCO will not encompass a limited number of projects, but rather will have an inclusive nature, in other words, countries will be able to sign up to specific projects", and "it will have a very wide scope, so that all those initiatives that are necessary can be incorporated".

Spain and PESCO

The main commitments that Spain will take on by joining PESCO are:

1. Regular increases in defence budgets in real terms to achieve the commitments agreed to.
2. Gradual increase in the medium term in defence investment spending until such time as this amounts to 20% of all defence spending (collective reference target).
3. To increase joint and "collaborative" strategic capability projects.
4. To increase the proportion of spending on defence research and technology until it amounts to 2% of all defence spending (collective reference target).
5. Establish periodic reviews of these commitments.
6. Play a substantial role in the development of defence capabilities in the EU, even within the framework of the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD), with the aim of guaranteeing the readiness of the capabilities required to attain the level of European ambition.

Non official translation