EU plans emergency system for military transport due to Russia threat
The European Commission unveiled plans on Wednesday to set up an emergency system intended to accelerate cross-border movements of troops and military equipment in response to growing security threats emanating from Russia.
“The rapid movement of European armed forces is essential for the defense of Europe,” EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said.
“Defense readiness fundamentally depends on your ability to get your tanks and troops where you need them, when you need them,” she said.
“Europe faces unprecedented security threats. The case for greater military mobility could not be clearer.”
According to these plans, military transport operations must have priority access to transport networks, infrastructure and associated services across the European Union in the event of a crisis.
They also provide exemptions from rules on driver working hours, state reporting requirements, and environmental or noise regulations. Rail vehicles could be used outside of their normally approved operating areas.
European deterrence cannot rely on goodwill, says proposal
“In a crisis, when time is crucial for any response, Europe cannot afford to react slowly,” the proposal says.
“In such situations, we cannot rely on ad hoc coordination and national goodwill. We must have a clear plan and a prepared fast track for our military forces. Without this, our deterrence remains theoretical.”
EU ministers and the European Parliament will examine and discuss the proposal. If approved, the system could be activated within 48 hours in an emergency.
The proposal calls it the European Enhanced Military Mobility Response System (EMERS), which adds to many other initiatives aimed at facilitating cross-border military transport.
These approaches include reducing bureaucratic barriers and expanding transportation infrastructure. Currently, many major road and rail bridges as well as ports and airports are not suitable for large and heavy military transports.
The EMERS proposal comes amid intelligence assessments suggesting Russia may be militarily capable of launching another war by 2030.
Kallas previously warned that Russia could prepare for an attack on an EU country in the coming years.
A commission document also released Wednesday said “Russian aggression against Ukraine demonstrates every day how important it is to deliver military aid and supplies as quickly and smoothly as possible.”
Previous efforts deemed insufficient
EU efforts to significantly improve military mobility have recently come under repeated criticism.
Earlier this year, a report from the European Court of Auditors (ECA) concluded that billions of euros of investment in projects aimed at accelerating the deployment of armed forces in Europe were not having the desired effect.
According to the European Court of Auditors, funded infrastructure projects were selected on a case-by-case basis rather than prioritizing the most urgent overall needs.
In 2022, the commission announced it would devote 1.7 billion euros ($1.97 billion) to militarily usable infrastructure projects.
These included the expansion of roads and railway lines. The funds available for this purpose were already exhausted at the end of 2023, although they were planned until 2027. The Court of Auditors also criticized the funding gap.
For the next long-term EU budget, the committee has proposed increasing the budget for military mobility tenfold.
In total, 17.65 billion euros are to be made available to invest in transport infrastructure that can be used for military purposes.
