The European Commission considers, in a progress report dated Monday 3 June, that “substantial progress” has been made with regard to military mobility in the European Union.
This progress report echoes the action plan tabled in March 2018 (see EUROPE 19991/13). In particular, it was intended to enable the rapid deployment of troops and equipment in the Union. It followed the presentation of a communication entitled ‘Improving Military Mobility in the EU’ in November 2017 (see EUROPE 11902/9).
In this report from 3 June, the Commission is satisfied that the “military requirements” reflecting the needs of the EU and the Member States have been identified and that the gap analysis between military and civilian needs has been completed. In this respect, it notes that military standards are largely compatible with the criteria applicable to the trans-European transport network.
In addition, the institution takes note of the partial interinstitutional agreement between the European Parliament and the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 8 March on the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) 2021-2027, providing for dual-use financing (civil and military) of transport infrastructure (see EUROPE 12210/5).
It also welcomes the accession of 23 EU Member States to the arrangements of the European Defence Agency's programme on ‘optimising cross-border movement permission procedures in Europe’ (see EUROPE 12254/25).
It also points to progress on the rationalisation of customs procedures, value added tax and the transport of dangerous goods.
A lot of work remains to be done. Finally, the Commission adds that the next progress report on this matter will be presented by the end of summer 2020.
See the report: https://bit.ly/314PIU6 (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)