Military Schengen a step closer
Renew Europe Group welcomes the outcome of today's vote on the Military Mobility file, giving the EU Parliament a mandate to enter negotiations with the Council. We strongly support a military Schengen and call for streamlined and simplified cross-border procedures, resilient dual-use infrastructure and deeper civil-military cooperation with NATO allies - ensuring these investments serve both Europe's security and its economic autonomy.
Today's vote is a clear signal that moving troops and equipment rapidly across the EU with our allies must now be implemented and the funding gap closed. MEP Petras Auštrevičius, Renew shadow rapporteur in the Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) said:
"We will continue negotiations to ensure dual-use investment in our roads, bridges, ports and railways becomes a real deterrent, because infrastructure is Europe's cardiovascular system, and right now it is blocking operational readiness. In the context of growing geopolitical uncertainty, removing barriers to the rapid and seamless movement of military equipment and personnel is no longer optional. It is essential. "
Petras AuštrevičiusRenew Europe MEP, Lithuania, Liberalų Sąjūdis
Military mobility has become Europe's most urgent infrastructure challenge. To defend the EU, its roads, bridges, railways, ports and air access must be designed to serve both civilian and military purposes. Removing barriers to troop and equipment movement will strengthen Europe's transport corridors, including links to Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans
MEP Valérie Devaux, Renew shadow in the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) commented after the vote:
“With this agreement, the European Parliament is demonstrating that it has fully grasped the geopolitical challenges we face by enabling troops and military equipment to move much more easily across Europe. It also marks the end of a certain form of naivety by excluding suppliers from high-risk third countries from strategic infrastructure.”
Valérie DevauxRenew Europe MEP, France, Union des Démocrates et Indépendants
The vote on the report highlights four urgent issues: improving cross-border mobility, including the efficiency of cross-border permit issuance, closing the funding gap, strengthening infrastructure on the EU's eastern flank and accelerating delivery.
In the inter-institutional negotiations, Renew Europe will push to close the funding gap and ensure rapid implementation. Liberals and Democrats reaffirm their commitment to a “buy European first” approach, as it will strengthen Europe’s economy, autonomy and resilience.