Military mobility

Background

In November 2025, the European Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy presented the Military Mobility Package. The end goal is to ensure the seamless movement of troops, equipment, and military assets across the European Union in response to urgent threats.

The Package consists of a regulation proposal and a joint communication offering a comprehensive set of measures to ensure the swift, coordinated and secure movement of military personnel and equipment across the EU. It strengthens Europe’s defence posture by addressing military mobility barriers in all dimensions - regulatory, infrastructure and capabilities - that currently slow down military transport across borders.

Military mobility is a key example of the EU’s dual-use policy. Fast and large-scale movements are expected to take place through a dual-use transport system that minimises disruption to civilian life.

Key points

The EESC:

• stresses that military mobility is vital for EU deterrence and defence, particularly for frontline and transit Member States on the EU’s eastern flank and calls for rapid reinforcement of these regions as a top priority in implementing the Regulation. To achieve this goal,  simplification and harmonisation of logistics, customs, and transport rules are needed without undermining workers’ rights, working conditions and safety.
• highlights the critical role of civilian resources and personnel in military mobility, demanding: clear legal frameworks to define their involvement in both peacetime and crises, transparency and justification for any emergency derogations under the European Military Mobility Enhanced Response System (EMERS), that when activated, should remain justified, proportionate and limited in duration, while taking due account of driver wellbeing; fair compensation, robust protections (e.g., insurance); investments in the transport workforce in order to improve employment and working conditions and training of workers.
• requires strict criteria for subcontracting military transport to civilian operators, particularly in road and maritime sectors, ensuring transparency, legitimacy, and compliance records of all subcontractors.

Additional information

Section: Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society (TEN)

Opinion number: TEN/869

Opinion type: Mandatory

Referral: COM(2025) 847 final 2025/0847 COD COM(2025) 847 final 2025/0847 COD

Rapporteur: Tomas Arvidsson (Group I - Sweden)

Date of adoption by section: 9 March 2026

Result of the vote: 82 in favour, 0 against, 3 abstentions

Date of adoption in plenary: 18-19 March 2026

Result of the vote: 204 in favour, 5 against, 12 abstentions

Contact

Marco Pezzani

Press Officer

Tel.: +32 2 546 9793 | Mob: +32 470 881 903

E-mail: marco.pezzani@eesc.europa.eu 

Konstantina Angelopoulou

Administrator

Tel.: +32 546 9747

E-mail:  konstantina.angelopoulou@eesc.europa.eu