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EU addressing military mobility challenges

European Commission

Press release
Jun 11, 2025
Brussels

To improve the movement of military troops, equipment and assets across the European Union and beyond, the European Commission and the EU's High Representative, have started discussions with stakeholders to develop a Military Mobility Package.

This package will address existing infrastructure bottlenecks, procedural obstacles, and capability gaps. It forms part of broader efforts to strengthen the EU's defence readiness, following the publication of the Joint White Paper for European Defence Readiness 2030.

The package is expected to present strategic objectives, harmonise national procedures and enhance infrastructure resilience. These measures will streamline military movements across Europe while integrating military needs with broader EU policies such as transport, energy, and taxation. For this purpose, the Commission will propose a joint communication, a regulation and amendments to existing EU laws.

The initiative reflects the Commission and the European External Action Service's (EEAS) commitment to working with EU Member States to advance military mobility through investments and policy reforms.

Next Steps

The Commission opened today a call for evidence and launched a targeted stakeholder consultation from mid-June to end-August 2025. This initiative will engage a wide array of stakeholders, including Member States, the European Defence Agency, PESCO, NATO, industry associations in defence, transport, and energy sectors, transport infrastructure managers, finance sectors, civil society, research organisations, and think tanks. The consultation process includes an EU survey (open until the end of July), submission of research and position papers, and bilateral meetings, all aimed at shaping the Military Mobility Package.

Background

Military mobility, defined as the capability of Member States' armed forces to swiftly move troops and equipment across the EU, is vital for European security and defence, particularly in the context of supporting Ukraine. Progress since the 2018 Action Plan and subsequent Military Mobility 2.0 from November 2022 underscores ongoing efforts to address regulatory, infrastructural, and capability barriers, which continue to impede seamless military movement.

Despite solid achievements under the EDA and PESCO project military mobility frameworks, the 1.7 billion EUR support to dual use infrastructure projects from Connecting Europe Facility under the current multi-annual financial framework though 95 projects in 21 Member States, notable obstacles persist, necessitating the current push for an enhanced approach to military mobility building on these efforts. The Military Mobility Pledge of May 2024 and the European Court of Auditors' recommendations from February 2025 further emphasize the EU's dedication to overcoming these challenges to improve military mobility and reinforce European defence readiness.

Quote(s)

Military mobility is fundamental for our security. This is about our capacity to get troops where we need them, when we need them. That is why we are accelerating discussions to identify every possible obstacle we need to address as part of a full Military Mobility Package later this year. Better military mobility in Europe will enhance our cooperation with NATO, while ensuring Europeans are more agile in responding to threats and crises and better equipped to protect citizens across the continent.

Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission

Military mobility extends far beyond the mere transport of troops from one location to another; it requires a comprehensive, whole-of-government strategy supported by military mobility capabilities. Our objective is to support Member States in efficiently deploying troops and equipment across the EU's borders during conflicts. The Military Mobility Package 2025 is set to introduce a robust toolbox that Member States can utilize effectively in both peacetime and crisis situations, ensuring readiness and resilience at all times.

Andrius Kubilius, Commissioner for Defence and Space

Military mobility is vital for Europe's defence and security. Upgrading our transport infrastructure to dual use standards is key to ensuring that troops and equipment can move swiftly and efficiently across the EU. We have identified together with NATO and our Member States, four strategic corridors and critical bottlenecks that must be urgently addressed and this is the core objective of the Military Mobility package to be presented by the end of the year. At the same time, we need to cut red-tape in EU transport legislation to ensure smooth military movements both in times of peace and in times of crisis.

Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism