Europa Posted on 2025-11-19 12:05:00

EU proposes “military Schengen” - Plan aims to speed up military mobility within the bloc

From Kristi Ceta

EU proposes “military Schengen” - Plan aims to speed up military

EU member states will have just three days in peacetime and six hours in emergencies to allow European military troops and equipment to cross their borders, according to a new European Commission proposal for a “military Schengen.” The plan aims to significantly improve military mobility within the bloc.

"Today, to move military equipment and troops from west to east, unfortunately it takes months. We want this to happen within days," said a senior representative of the bloc.

"You can't defend a continent if you can't move easily across it. So we're creating this military Schengen," he added.

The package, called “Military Mobility,” is the European Commission’s latest plan to significantly strengthen the EU’s defenses before the end of the decade. By then, some intelligence agencies believe Russia could have the capacity to attack another European country.

One of the key measures will be to speed up authorisations for cross-border military movement. Currently, the rules across the 27 member states are not harmonised. Some take weeks to respond to a request from another EU country to move troops or equipment across their territory.

The Commission aims to reduce this to a maximum of three days in peacetime and just six hours in emergencies, assuming that authorisation will be granted automatically. The plan foresees a new response system for European military mobility, modelled on the Civil Protection Mechanism, which allows member states to provide assistance quickly when faced with natural or man-made disasters.

This system will include a “solidarity fund for military mobility”, where members will be able to free up resources, such as trains, ferries or strategic air transport, at the service of other countries. A “catalogue” will also be created, listing dual-use transport and logistics resources from civilian companies that can be used for military operations.

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