Glossary
PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation)
An EU framework letting a subset of member states commit to specific joint defense capability projects, distinct from EDF's grant-making function.
PESCO lets a subset of EU member states commit to specific joint defense capability projects — jointly developing equipment, sharing capabilities, or coordinating military planning — under binding commitments that go beyond what all EU members agree to collectively. Unlike EDF, PESCO's core function is coordinating which member states commit to which joint capability projects, not disbursing grant funding itself; funding for PESCO projects often comes from participating member states or, where eligible, from EDF calls opened specifically to PESCO projects.