The European Union’s top transport official has issued a stark warning that Europe’s aging roads, bridges, and rail systems are ill-prepared for a large-scale military response, should a conflict with Russia escalate. Speaking to the Financial Times, EU Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas highlighted serious limitations in the bloc’s infrastructure that could prevent rapid troop and equipment movement in the event of war.
“If NATO forces were called upon to counter a Russian invasion along the EU’s eastern flank,” Tzitzikostas said, “tanks could get stuck in tunnels, bridges might collapse, and troops would be delayed by bureaucratic border procedures.”
€17 Billion Military Mobility Overhaul
To address these vulnerabilities, the European Commission is proposing a €17 billion investment package to modernize critical transport infrastructure across the continent. This includes upgrading or constructing over 500 projects along four designated military corridors that connect western and eastern Europe. These projects are being developed in close coordination with NATO’s military leadership, though their exact locations remain classified for security reasons.
Key areas of concern include:
- Bridges too narrow or too weak to support modern military vehicles
- Tunnels that cannot accommodate heavy armor
- Roadways and railways built for civilian weight limits — typically 40 tonnes — while tanks weigh up to 70 tonnes
- Border crossing protocols that could delay troop movement due to excessive red tape
“The reality today is that moving military personnel and equipment from the west to the east of Europe can take weeks, and sometimes even months,” Tzitzikostas noted. “That is unacceptable under today’s threat environment.”
Reducing Red Tape and Bureaucracy
Beyond physical upgrades, the strategy also includes streamlining cross-border military logistics to prevent what Tzitzikostas described as “tanks being stuck in paperwork.” The aim is to ensure European troops can be deployed across borders “in a matter of hours, or at most, days,” rather than facing bureaucratic holdups.
A Strategic Shift Amid U.S. Retrenchment and Russian Aggression
This initiative comes amid broader concerns of a potential Russian offensive against NATO members by 2030, a warning recently echoed by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. It also reflects growing urgency across Europe to rearm and prepare independently, as the U.S. signals plans to scale back its military presence in Europe under President Donald Trump’s defense doctrine.
As part of that shift, the EU is developing a continent-wide rearmament plan estimated at up to €800 billion, aimed at making Europe more self-sufficient in defense and deterrence capabilities.
The European Commission has proposed the €17 billion military mobility budget as part of its 2028–2034 financial framework, though EU diplomats caution the figure may be reduced during budget negotiations among member states.
Complementing NATO’s Spending Goals
Tzitzikostas emphasized that the plan is designed to align with NATO’s latest defense spending targets, including a goal of allocating 5% of GDP to defense, of which 1.5% would be dedicated to infrastructure and mobility.
“We can no longer afford to be unprepared or dependent,” Tzitzikostas stated. “A secure Europe requires the ability to move swiftly and decisively.”
