On November 20, the European Union (EU) announced plans to build a Schengen military area to shorten the deployment time of heavy forces and equipment in the context of the confrontation with Russia.
The published documents show the goal of creating a common military mobilization zone across the bloc by 2027, aiming to reduce administrative procedures, apply common rules for redeployment and prioritize access for armed forces in case of emergency.
Officials said that weak infrastructure has taken many weeks to mobilize forces to Russia's borders over the years, causing a major disadvantage for the ability to respond quickly.
The plan includes upgrading key EU military corridors to dual-use standards and enhancing strategic infrastructure protection. The idea also includes the formation of a solidarity fund that would allow member countries to provide special military transport capacity to countries that do not have enough resources.
The context of the plan is associated with prolonged infrastructure problems, when the bridge is degraded, the railway is not uniform and the procedures are complicated, causing the transportation of troops from Western European ports to the Russian border to last up to 45 days, while the target is only a few days.
EU Transport Minister Apostolos Tzitzikostas warned that NATO tanks moving in the bloc could be stuck in the tunnel or cause the bridge to collapse if they do not upgrade infrastructure, and said that at least 17 billion euros is needed to solve the problem. Many EU officials have recently predicted that Russia could launch a direct attack in a few years, although Moscow has denied the claim and called it meaningless.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the EU's Militarization trend and said rising defense spending is weakening the economies of member countries. Moscow also called NATO a enemy, citing the alliances provision of military aid to Ukraine.
