The European Parliament’s Committees on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) and Security and Defence (SEDE) examined the proposed amendments to the own-initiative report on military mobility on Monday 13 October (see EUROPE 13700/16). Although they tabled 644 amendments, the MEPs were in agreement in terms of objectives.
“These amendments are an excellent illustration of the cross-cutting and horizontal interests that are emerging around this report. A lot of excellent amendments were presented”, welcomed co-rapporteur Petras Auštrevičius (Renew Europe, Lithuanian).
One of the main points raised was the lack of investment in transport infrastructure, particularly dual-use infrastructure. They are counting on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034, presented in July (see EUROPE 13683/3), to remedy this situation. “The next MFF must see that the right resources are earmarked, bolstering the ‘Connecting Europe Facility’, as well as the role of the European Investment Bank and that of private capital”, said Alberico Gambino (ECR, Italian).
Wouter Beke (EPP, Belgian) and François Kalfon (S&D, French) stressed the importance of developing public-private partnerships with European industry. “I therefore call for a fast-track defence mobility Regulation to shorten procurement and appeal procedures for project recognised as being of strategic European interest”, called Elio di Rupo (S&D, Belgian).
Mr Kalfon and Valérie Devaux (Renew Europe, French) defended the idea of European preference in public procurement. The second also mentioned a European credit linked to the purchase of defence equipment.
“We can discuss months and weeks and furiously about how to divide the European money, but I think we have to look at those national envelopes, because the national envelopes are so important, and it’s foreseen that they shall be used as well for infrastructure”, stressed Jan-Christoph Oetjen (Renew Europe, German).
For its part, the European Commission has indicated that it is working on a comprehensive package of measures, developed in close collaboration with NATO (see EUROPE 13603/7, 13712/23), which will be presented by the end of the year. This will encompass the ‘military Schengen area’, with harmonisation of national rules on cross-border authorisations. “The proposal also includes an emergency framework to better prepare the EU for such transport situations”, emphasised the institution’s representative.
Read the amendments: https://aeur.eu/f/iy8 ; https://aeur.eu/f/iy9 (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)