THAT’European Union take firm steps in strengthening his own country common defense with the introduction of a new package regarding military mobility, which aims to create a kind of “Military Schengen”.
The aim is clear: to enable rapid and coordinated movement of troops, vehicles and equipment across European borders, reducing bureaucratic obstacles and logistical bottlenecks that, in recent years, have highlighted the structural limitations in dealing with sudden crises and rising tensions in the economy. east front.
The plan, presented in Brussels by the European Commission and the High Representative, provides an illustration standard procedure and specific times for transit authorization, to ensure the ability to respond if an incident occurs martial law or hybrid threat. Mobility must be as fast as the movement of people aroundSchengen areaa transformation that also involves the systematization of existing infrastructure. Roads, railways, bridges, ports and airports will actually be brought up to the necessary standards to make this possible passing of a large convoywith special attention to the corridor connecting the heart of Europe with the eastern borders.
“Currently, to move military equipment and troops, say from west to east, unfortunately takes monthshe said Apostolos TzitzikostasEuropean Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism. “What we want to do is do it in a matter of days“.”You can’t defend a continent if you can’t move within it“, he said. One of the key steps is the acceleration of cross-border military mobility authorization procedures. Currently, regulations on the topic have not yet been harmonized, and some take weeks to respond to requests from other EU countries to move troops and equipment. The Commission is now demanding that this deadline be reduced to a maximum three days in times of peace and brightness six hours in an emergency, assuming that in the latter case it is granted.
These reforms come at the right time war in Ukraine This shows how speed of deployment and logistical capacity are critical to a credible defense strategy. Among European institutions, the belief that the continent’s security can no longer depend exclusively on the United States is growing stronger. Therefore, Brussels not only aims to simplify mobility procedures, but also intends to relaunch its own procedures defense industry with a roadmap to 2030. The plan includes significant investments developing technology – from artificial intelligence to autonomous systems, from cyber defense to space capabilities – and the gradual harmonization of individual countries’ military programs.
European Chancellors welcomed the project with support and caution. On the one hand, there is a consensus on the need to strengthen the EU’s reaction capacity; on the other hand, the issue of national sovereignty still exists, especially in terms of military authority and the use of strategic infrastructure. Many countries are also concerned that European ambitions require much greater investment than has been undertaken so far and that industrial production networks could harm some national sectors. However, increasing awareness of Europe’s vulnerabilities convinced some Member States of the importance of making a qualitative leap, especially in the context of new global competition in military technology.
For countries likeItalyproject opens it complicated scenario but potentially profitable. Its geographical position makes it a central link between the Mediterranean and the Euro-Atlantic space, and can therefore take a central role in new military mobility routes.
At the same time, national industrial systems can benefit from Europe’s push towards innovation, by entering more competitive integrated supply chains. But everything will depend on the ability to quickly adapt infrastructure and regulatory frameworks, as well as the political will to invest in a way consistent with Europe’s ambitions.
