Amendments proposed for EU Military Mobility package

Amendments proposed to the EU Military Mobility package are to make it more efficient and practical for civilian operators. Photo: Hipertrans

A series of amendments has been proposed to the European Union Military Mobility Package to maximise efficiency and practicality.

The amendments were put forward by the European association for abnormal road transport and mobile cranes (ESTA). At the same time, the association reiterated its strong support for the proposals.

Around 80 per cent of military transport loads are the responsibility of civilian transport operators so the amendments are to make the mobility package “as efficient and as practical as possible” for them.

Ton Klijn, ESTA director. Photo: ESTA

Commenting on the amendment proposal Ton Klijn, ESTA director, said, “Our support for the package remains strong and unwavering. Our proposed amendments are simply part of the necessary discussions about the precise detail.”

Several interested parties submitted amendments and these are under consideration by the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Committee. When these are agreed, a final draft will be laid  before the full European Parliament for approval. After that it goes into a trilogue process – three-way negotiation where the EU Parliament, Council, and Commission work out the final version of a law before voting on it.

Supporters of the mobility package hope to have it agreed by the end of June 2026.

ESTA’s proposed amendments

• the proposed less restrictive rules on driving and resting during military activities to be unified across the EU
• permits for abnormal military transport to take into account modern trailer technologies and axle load distribution systems that reduce infrastructure impact and enhance safety
• permitting procedures to be digitalised to ensure swift and uninterrupted abnormal military transports
• member states to ensure that bridges and culverts in the military mobility road corridors are marked with signage indicating load-bearing capacities.

ESTA is also calling for greater clarity on the legal and contractual responsibilities and employment conditions for civilian operators included in the so-called Solidarity Pool. The Solidarity Pool is a proposed mechanism where EU countries share transport and logistics assets with each other.

EU member states will be able to register transport capabilities, for example, rail wagons, trucks, ferries, aircraft and so on. Other countries will be able to use those assets if they need to move troops or equipment quickly.

This new system aims to approve cross-border military transit in as little as six hours in an emergency and to ensure Europe’s military has priority access to transport infrastructure in a crisis.

Despite the urgency, supporters of the package are concerned its progress could be slowed by opposition from a small number of nations and some narrow sectoral interests.

Klijn added, “We have long campaigned for agreed pan-European heavy transport routes for both military and industrial use, and we recognise that such routes will necessarily integrate road, rail and water infrastructure.

“We sincerely hope that across Europe national and sectoral differences can be put to one side for the greater benefit of all.”