JOINT was conceived and designed as a scientific and policy-relevant, network-based project.
On a scientific and analytical level, JOINT first developed the concept of intra-EU contestation, regional fragmentation and multipolar competition that shape the environment of EUFSP in conflicts, detailing how each factor presents challenges through various sub-categories and variables. Second, it categorised mitigation measures across institutional, functional and diplomatic-coalitional dimensions. Finally, JOINT devised the concept of ‘relational power’ to describe the EU's structural openness to contextual influences on foreign policymaking and its proactive engagement through alliances, partnerships and multilevel dialogues.
On a policy-relevant level, JOINT’s work on case studies included recommendations. Furthermore, JOINT elaborated an Effectiveness Checklist that provides a simple framework to analyse the effectiveness of the EU’s response to conflicts. JOINT’s work on the scenarios of adjustment and reform detailed expected changes to decision-making rules, institutional structures and range and ambition of common policies to improve EUFSP governance structures: introduction of qualified majority voting into all EUFSP decisions; creation of conflict task forces assisting the European Council; expansion of the HRVP’s portfolio to neighbourhood, development and humanitarian aid; establishment of ‘security and defence troika’ consisting of Commission President, HRVP and Defence Commissioner; Defence Council; Defence Commissioner; EP Defence Committee; full involvement of member states in EDA-coordinated capability development plan; increase in size of EDF (€8-10b over the 7-year financial framework) and EDIP (€70-80b over the 7-year financial framework; incremental participation in decision-making processes and gradual access to EU funds of candidate countries; upgrade of inbound investment screening framework into single mechanism; centralisation of oversight authority over member states compliance with sanctions and export controls; outbound investment screening mechanism; toolbox to respond to energy supply and price shocks.
On a network-relevant level, JOINT partners expanded their networks within and outside the EU through internal workshops and public events. They organised 7 public conferences, 11 webinars, 2 workshop with policymakers, 9 ad hoc meetings with diplomats on each of the nine case studies, 2 lectures, and one Early Career Researchers’ Course. The secondment of JOINT scholars to the EEAS and the German and Italian foreign ministries for a period of up to 1 year allowed JOINT partners to deepen relations with policymaking communities.
On a public dissemination level, JOINT produced 26 research papers, 36 briefs, 3 public conferences, 4 public events, 7 podcasts, 11 webinars and 43 videos, plus 1 special issue and 1 book, all adequately disseminated through social media posts, including ad-hoc multimedia materials with their main findings, and newsletters. The almost 55,000 views of JOINT’s website and the papers published in JOINT’s, IAI’s and partner institutions’ websites attest to the circulation of JOINT’s output.
