The “Pooling & Sharing” concept

„Pooling and sharing“ is a novel approach in the area of defence acquisition and
procurement at the EU level. This concept was launched in 2010 with the ambitious
objective to step up defence cooperation and integration among the EU Member States.
From technological point of view “pooling and sharing” has been borrowed from NATO just
like the EU’s comprehensive approach in the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) of
the Union. Technically speaking, “pooling and sharing” could be considered as
institutionalized cooperation between states or other institutions where capabilities / assets
are shared, either in a bilateral, multinational and supranational context. 2 From an ideational
perspective the concept is based upon the federalist approach to EU integration which aims
at developing the EU as a Federal super-state rather than as an international organization.
Although the federalist approach is widely contested in the EU it has proponents in many of
the EU institutions including the European Commission and the EU Parliament. In this
context the “pooling & sharing” concept could be connected with the concept for European
Armed Forces which has also become a common currency in the EU newspeak. In addition,
the “pooling & sharing” concept fits well the recent efforts to enhance EU defence
integration under the so-called Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO). In June 2017
the European Council launched the Permanent Structured Cooperation in defence as set
forth in Art.42 and Art.46 of the Lisbon Treaty. PESCO is seen as a mechanism for deepening
defence integration in the EU which will have impact on the “pooling & sharing” process…