Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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154. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if details have been given on the second wave of PESCO projects with the updated list of projects and participants to be decided by November 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29612/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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On 2 May 2018, the European Defence Agency, through the PESCO Secretariat, invited participating Member States to submit their project proposals for the next list of PESCO Projects no later than 31 of July 2018. It is expected that the submissions will be evaluated during September with the second wave of PESCO Projects to be adopted in November.

While a list has not been completed as yet in relation to the second wave of PESCO projects, work is now ongoing in my Department on analysing new PESCO project proposals put forward by Member States in terms of compatibility and suitability to Ireland's needs. 

 Ireland is currently participating in two projects from the first list of PESCO projects. One relates to the ongoing development of Defence Forces capabilities for peace support and crisis management operations; The German led "Centre of Excellence for EU Military Training Missions (EUTMCC) Project" and the second project is a Greek led "Upgrade of Maritime Surveillance Systems". We also maintain observer status on a further eight projects.