Abstract How does the European Union sustain foreign policy coordination when member states increasingly contest the fundamental norms underpinning collective action? This paper refines socialization theory by theorizing conditions under which normative dissent strengthens rather than erodes coordination mechanisms. Building on Michalski's research documenting Political and Security Committee resilience during crises and her analysis of everyday practices managing dissent (Michalski & Danielson, 2020; Michalski et al., 2022), I develop a theoretical framework specifying three moderating conditions determining whether contestation fragments or reinforces coordination: dissent coalition structure, institutional depth of coordination practices, and hierarchical position of contested norms within EU value frameworks. I argue that isolated dissent in highly institutionalized domains over peripheral norms often triggers adaptive innovations strengthening coordination, while coalition-based challenges to foundational values in weakly institutionalized areas predictably fragment coherence. The theoretical contribution challenges linear socialization models assuming normative convergence by demonstrating how procedural norms can sustain coordination despite substantive value conflicts. This refinement advances understanding of institutional resilience during democratic backsliding and geopolitical polarization, with implications for theories of international socialization, norm contestation, and European integration under conditions of ideological heterogeneity. Keywords: EU foreign policy, socialization theory, normative contestation, Political and Security Committee, institutional resilience, procedural norms