Unveiling the Effectiveness and Legitimacy of Differentiated Integration in EU Security and Defense Policy: A Dutch Perspective on the PESCO Military Mobility Project

The EU Global Strategy, introduced in June 2016, aimed to enhance the Union’s security and defense cooperation amidst growing security threats and geopolitical changes. To achieve this, the EU proposed Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) as a practical mechanism. PESCO allows for a modular and differentiated approach, enabling EU member states to undertake security and defense cooperation projects independently. This research focuses on a project within PESCO, the PESCO Military Mobility project (MILMOB), which aims to support the achievement of full EU military mobility. It assesses MILMOB’s effectiveness and legitimacy from a Dutch perspective, using the framework developed by Lavenex and Križić (2022). They argue that institutional design and great power influence significantly impact these aspects. The analysis, based on interviews and document studies, found MILMOB to be both effective and legitimate from a Dutch perspective. Possible factors stimulating its effectiveness...Show moreThe EU Global Strategy, introduced in June 2016, aimed to enhance the Union’s security and defense cooperation amidst growing security threats and geopolitical changes. To achieve this, the EU proposed Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) as a practical mechanism. PESCO allows for a modular and differentiated approach, enabling EU member states to undertake security and defense cooperation projects independently. This research focuses on a project within PESCO, the PESCO Military Mobility project (MILMOB), which aims to support the achievement of full EU military mobility. It assesses MILMOB’s effectiveness and legitimacy from a Dutch perspective, using the framework developed by Lavenex and Križić (2022). They argue that institutional design and great power influence significantly impact these aspects. The analysis, based on interviews and document studies, found MILMOB to be both effective and legitimate from a Dutch perspective. Possible factors stimulating its effectiveness include internal and external great power influence and the potential for mutual learning. Possible factors stimulations its perceived legitimacy include the perceived organizational openness, a ‘’weak’’ regulatory dimension, and the project’s effectiveness. By examining these factors, and also considering those that might not have stimulated effectiveness and legitimacy, the research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the effectiveness and legitimacy of modular and differentiated approaches in EU security and defense policy, particularly within PESCO.Show less

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Unveiling the Effectiveness and Legitimacy of Differentiated Integration in EU Security and Defense Policy: A Dutch Perspective on the PESCO Military Mobility Project