COVID-19 as a prestige-promoting mechanism: PESCO framework can be an opportunity for EU member states

The COVID-19 pandemic has been constituting an unprecedented challenge for the whole globe, affecting countries' social systems, economies, security and defence, and political agenda as well. The situation has caused a number of losses, but at the same time, it has provided various opportunities to use the current order in the name of joint development. As for the EU, the pandemic has shown the need for a coordinated and comprehensive strategy to deal with health emergency needs, to support economic activity, to prepare the ground for the recovery, and to be prepared for future challenges. The EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) has a variety of instruments designed not only to improve, strengthen and develop the field of defence, but also to strengthen civil-military cooperation and to build confidence in the policies of each EU Member State. The proposed tools can be used in mechanisms where military capabilities make a significant contribution to support public health and its existence and enhance the countries' prestige and power. One such tool within CSDP is PESCO. It is an opportunity to realize more projects in the field of medicine – in such way, EU states can promote not only their prestige but also contribute and strengthen civil-military synergy. EU states should use all available tools to reduce similar pandemics in the future. It is particularly crucial when the world is affected by the pandemic, and will not be immune to similar outbreaks in the future. The study aims to identify whether the PESCO can be one of the tools for future projects in medicine. Whether to reduce future pandemics and its effects, it can also be used to strengthen the military medicine of the EU and simultaneously be in synergy with the civilian sector by providing support to the civilian field and can EU member states increase their prestige through the PESCO. Methods: The study is based on qualitative research methods - literature, primary and secondary source analysis, and officials' interviews. Results: Based on the Latvia’s case identified that strengthening the medical field by taking advantage of military networks and all tools brings some benefits to both sides, demonstrating states' power and prestige. Operating within a military field presents not only the countries' goodwill and enhances the country's prestige, but increase it's power in the international community as well.