Post by Dr. Jasmin Schmeidler (Docteur en droit international), LL.M.

Having been involved in this project over years on the industrial side, the end of the FCAS-fighter-collaboration, as announced yesterday, is sad but not surprising news. Looking ahead, the real question is what we can learn from it. • Governments • Industries • Stakeholders From an "outside" perspective, it seems always "easier" to provide advice and tips on what was not running smoothly. The real "insiders" and those who have been involved know far better what types of behaviours, challenges, tensions, and competing interests can emerge throughout such a complex undertaking and thus, have led to such an end. Successful collaboration cannot take place if struggles of power and positions persist throughout the entire journey. European projects in such highly regulated and strategically sensitive sectors need partners who are committed to working hand in hand toward a greater objective - despite differences in implementation, which will always remain. Let us hope that all parties involved take valuable lessons from this experience and put all energy and efforts together into what is still essential: Strengthening European sovereignty and advancing high-tech capabilities and solutions in a domain that will or should stay one of the key pillars of European partnerships and security.