Head of Community Diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, warned that it was urgent to improve military mobility because “Europe faces unprecedented security threatsBecause of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the “hybrid war” launched by the Kremlin against member states.
“The rapid deployment of European armed forces is essential for European defence. We have to make sure that the forces are in the right place at the right time. “It’s very simple: the faster we can mobilize our forces, the greater our ability to deter and defend.”
Currently, permission to move an armored column may take up to 45 daysThe average is about 10 days. Each member state has its own rules and requirements, which greatly complicates the movement of troops in Europe. The new regulations specify a Maximum duration of 3 daysThis is thanks to one permit that is valid in all 27 countries.
Brussels also proposes creating Emergency mechanism In serious crisis situations, their activation will be in the hands of governments, which will allow Member States to move large units without the need for prior authorizations.
6 hours notice will be sufficient for troops to cross the border with absolute priority. This urgent action will not only facilitate European maneuvers, but also NATO actions.
Regulations too It removes a whole series of legal barriers to military logistics. The movement of troops and tanks will be exempt from rules restricting traffic on holidays or weekends; Rules on driving times or noise have been relaxed, and transporting dangerous or oversized loads has become easier.
Infrastructure is another bottleneck: Bridges that cannot support the weight of a tank or tunnels that are too narrow.
The EU will increase funding available for dual-use civil-military infrastructure from €1.7 billion to €17 billion, identifying a total of 500 urgent projects to eliminate logistical bottlenecks in the region. Each of the four priority laneswhich has not been announced.
Member States must also pEnhancing the protection of critical infrastructure against drones, sabotage or cyber attacks.
Finally, Brussels will create A common set of capabilitiesFrom transport platforms to military vehicles, landing ships or hospital trains.
With a single coordination point in each country and a permanent working group at the European level, Brussels wants to end the current chaos and ensure that Europe is able to move with the speed required by modern warfare when the time comes.
The regulation still needs to be discussed and approved by both the European Parliament and the governments of the 27 countries.
In parallel, the European Commission published on Wednesday A roadmap for transforming the defense industry. An initiative aimed at accelerating the modernization of European industrial capabilities, encouraging investments, attracting new technological players and enhancing strategic independence.
The plan aims to have four priorities: boosting financing for industry, accelerating innovation, expanding access to defense capabilities, and developing the skills needed to maintain a European competitive advantage.
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