The article analyzes the development of the European project of Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), defence and economic cooperation of the EU countries within the project, contradictions between the concept of a multi-speed Europe and the unanimity rule in the European defence policy. As a result of the analysis, the author comes to the conclusion that within the PESCO project, European countries are more focused on national military programs than on the agreed supranational priorities for the creation of weapons systems. However, recently, the implementation of some military programs within the project indicate a desire to comply with supranational priorities for the implementation of military programs. In addition, the fact was revealed that high-tech weapons systems with multi-year funding programs and long construction periods can be implemented, almost, only by two countries in the European Union that have the political will and large defence-economic potential, which indicates the long-term nature of the defence-economic integration of the EU countries and the desire of the EU countries to use different approaches (not only within the PESCO framework) in achieving the goal of the EU Defence Union.