The European Parliament’s adoption of the report on military mobility marks tangible progress towards strengthening Europe’s defence readiness, the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group said on Wednesday, pointing to the need to cut red tape and accelerate the cross-border movement of troops and equipment.

The report, co-authored by ECR Co-Rapporteur Roberts Zīle, focuses on removing administrative and legislative obstacles that continue to undermine Europe’s ability to respond swiftly to security threats, particularly along the EU’s Eastern Flank in light of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.

During the plenary debate, Zīle underlined how current procedures fall short of what credible deterrence requires.

“Today, it can take one month, and in some cases even 45 days, to move a single brigade across Europe, not because of geography, but because of bureaucracy,” Zīle said.

He also recalled how earlier ambitions on military mobility were weakened by budgetary decisions.

“In the current multiannual financial framework, the European Council reduced the Commission’s proposal for military mobility from €6 billion to €1.7 billion. I hope this will never happen again,” he said.

Zīle further criticised the lack of meaningful digitalisation.

“After four years, the so-called digitisation of the military customs form resulted in nothing more than a PDF,” he said.

Speaking after the vote, Zīle stressed that the focus must now shift from reports to results.

“Europe needs a real ‘military Schengen’, fewer procedures, faster decisions and the ability to move forces swiftly where they are needed. This is not a theoretical debate. It is a matter of security,” Zīle concluded.