"Military Schengen" for faster troop movements

According to MEPs, today, military movements within the EU often face bureaucratic obstacles, outdated infrastructure and lengthy permits that can take several weeks to transfer military equipment between countries. Parliament is therefore calling for the removal of 'internal borders' for armies, similar to the civilian Schengen.

A key element should be investment in transport infrastructure that can be used both civilly and militarily - for example, railways, roads, bridges and tunnels. According to estimates, the modernisation of key sections could cost up to tens of billions of euros. MEPs therefore support the Commission's plan to significantly increase the budget for military mobility in the next EU long-term budget.

Parliament is also calling for administrative simplification: faster authorisation of cross-border movements, more digitisation and the creation of a single point of contact to help armies coordinate. The aim is for troops to be able to move across the EU's internal borders within 24 hours in a crisis situation, and within a few days at most in normal situations.

MEPs also place a strong emphasis on cooperation with NATO. Military mobility is key not only for EU defence, but also for the ability to respond quickly to threats on the EU's eastern flank, especially in the Baltic States and Poland. The "military Schengen" is intended to be one of the tools to better prepare Europe for a possible crisis or conflict.