The EU will modernize European transport corridors. “They are not suitable for rapid movement of tanks and infantry”
According to the EU Commissioner, the current transport corridors of Europe, which were built without taking into account the need to move the army through the territory of the alliance, “They are not suitable for fast transport of tanks, infantry and military loads. “
Military equipment transferred to the eastern border of the EU will get stuck in tunnels, collapse bridges and involved in bureaucratic border procedures. – We have old bridges that require modernization. We have narrow bridges that need to be expanded. We also have bridges that do not exist at all – said Tsitsikostas. Paying attention to the state of infrastructure, he noted that trucks on European roads usually weigh up to 40 t, and tanks – up to 70 t.
Continued article under video material
The plan assumes modernization together 500 infrastructure objects along four military corridors running through the entire continent. The project to rebuild these nodes, whose names are not disclosed due to the mystery, was developed together with NATO and the military command of the Alliance.
In addition, Brussels intends to limit the bureaucracy related to the flow of equipment across the borders of EU countries. Tsitsikostas emphasized that it proposes to allocate EUR 17 billion (72 billion 653 million) for the modernization program.
The official presentation of the strategy is to take place this year. It will be part of the general defense measures of the EU in the context of regular reports of a possible armed clash with Moscow and a planned limitation of the presence of American troops in Europe.
In an interview with “FT”, the high -ranking EU diplomats noticed that the amount of EUR 17 billion (72 billion 653 million PLN) announced by the European Commission will probably be reduced during negotiations between countries before the European budget for 2028-2034.
Tsitsikostas also said that the plan to increase military mobility would be supplemented by the agreement of NATO allies on increasing the target level of defense expenditure to 5 percent. GDP, including 1.5 percent for safety -related infrastructure investments. – We can no longer afford to be unprepared or dependent – emphasized the EU Commissioner.
