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It Elena Milanesi and Irene Verduci / March 2025
The first Trump administration underscored the growing unreliability of the United States as a security provider for Europe, prompting EU countries to accelerate common defence initiatives. This shift was intensified by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, bringing conflict closer to the Union and prompting the EU to accelerate common defence initiatives. Traditionally, the EU has adapted existing instruments to emerging challenges, often creating new, limited-scope tools that could become obsolete once immediate needs subside. Recent discussions on defence cooperation suggest moving beyond the Treaties. However, this paper advocates for a feasible approach within the EU framework, providing a structured and legally coherent basis for defence initiatives. This would facilitate expanding defence cooperation projects and enhance their visibility, ultimately strengthening the EU’s security capabilities. A more effective strategy is needed to reinforce existing frameworks, ensuring a robust and adaptable European defence architecture capable of addressing diverse security threats. This paper endorses Permanent Structured Cooperation as the most viable foundation to advance defence collaboration within the Union.
Keywords: EU defence, EU common defence, CFSP, CSDP, EU law, coalition of the willing, PESCO
Elena Milanesi, a law graduate from the University of Turin, is currently pursuing an LL.M in European Legal Studies at the College of Europe in Bruges.
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Irene Verduci, a graduate from SciencesPo Paris and the University of Turin, as well as a former researcher at Finabel, is now working in the public affairs sector in Brussels.
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