EU wants to extend military mobility corridors to Ukraine – EU high representative

The European Union plans to include Ukraine in its military Schengen projects and the pan-European military mobility area, which aims to speed up the movement of troops and military equipment across Europe.

Source: Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, during the presentation of the Military Mobility project in Brussels, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Ukraine will become part of the pan-European military mobility area, the EU says.

"We also want to extend the military mobility corridors into Ukraine. This would be a security guarantee, meaning we could deliver faster support if needed," Kallas stated.

Ukraine is also repeatedly mentioned in the draft of the new EU Regulation on military mobility, the text of which has been seen by European Pravda.

It should be noted that on 17 November, the Regulation was submitted to the Council of the EU and the European Parliament for adoption under the ordinary legislative procedure.

"It is also vital for the EU's security interests that the provisions of the Regulation will be applied in accession countries, especially in Ukraine and Moldova. In this context, accession countries' Common Foreign and Security Policy alignment rate should be taken into account," the document reads.

The Regulation will offer Ukraine significant benefits: the improvement of dual-use transport infrastructure, the streamlining of rules for transporting military equipment, and harmonised border-crossing procedures across Europe.

"These measures would support faster movement of military assistance towards Ukraine and the Union's Eastern borders. Together, these efforts could help reinforce the resilience of Ukraine's logistical connections with the Union and contribute to broader objectives of strengthening European security and defence," the authors of the document emphasise.

"Russia's war against Ukraine provides invaluable lessons for the EU, Member States andpartners, in military mobility. The Military Mobility Transport Group may invite Ukraine,Moldova and countries of the European Economic Area as observers, with a view to drawing from its valuable experience with military and preparing Ukraine for its future EU membership," the European Commission also proposes.

Background:

• As European Pravda reported, on 19 November, the EU presented the so-called military Schengen project for the rapid movement of troops across European territory.
• The day before, eight European countries had signed a protocol of intent on ensuring military mobility.
• On 16 October, the European Commission presented a roadmap for the EU's defence readiness up to 2030.

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