1.Introduction: improving military mobility in the EU

In his State of the Union Address of 2017, President Juncker stressed the imperative of creating a fully-fledged European Defence Union by 2025. The EU is already taking the necessary steps to build a more effective, responsive and joined-up Union, capable of pursuing EU's shared interests and priorities in promoting peace and guaranteeing the security of its citizens and territory, as also called for in the Global Strategy for the EU Foreign and Security Policy. The European Defence Action Plan and in particular the European Defence Fund show Europe’s commitment to take bold action in support of Member States. Improving military mobility in the European Union is one of the practical steps to that end, hence contributing to building a Union that protects, where European solidarity and mutual assistance are implemented effectively.

Twenty-five EU Member States have decided to include military mobility among the more binding commitments they have taken under the Permanent Structured Cooperation launched on 11 December 2017. The Council also adopted a Recommendation concerning the roadmap for the implementation of the Permanent Structured Cooperation and a Decision establishing the list of projects to be developed under the Permanent Structured Cooperation on 6 March 2018. In December 2017 military mobility was added to the common set of new proposals for the implementation of the EU-NATO Joint Declaration of July 2016 . The European Council in December 2017 invited the High Representative, the Commission and the EU Member States to bring work forward on military mobility, both in the Permanent Structured Cooperation and in the context of EU-NATO cooperation.

The guiding principles of the EU approach

As a follow-up to the Joint Communication on improving military mobility in the EU of November 2017, and building on the Roadmap by the ad-hoc working group on cross-border military transportation within Europe in the framework of the European Defence Agency, the present Action Plan aims to provide a coherent framework for the ongoing and future programmes, projects, initiatives and activities. This will allow for a more coordinated EU approach, strengthening solidarity among Member States and improving the EU's added-value.

A better mobility of forces within and beyond the EU will enhance European security by enabling the EU Member States to act faster, in line with their defence needs and responsibilities, both in the context of Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations, as well as national and multinational activities (e.g. in the framework of NATO).

Working closely with the EU Member States, including all their relevant actors, is key for the implementation of this Action Plan. This will be done in full respect of the sovereignty of EU Member States over their national territory and national decision-making processes regarding military movements. Further to that, steps to enhance cooperation between the Union institutions, agencies and bodies and the competent national authorities within the EU Member States will be taken in full respect of the different competences of the actors involved. Close coordination between the present Action Plan and the Permanent Structured Cooperation project on military mobility needs to be ensured in order to reach complementarity of results.

Further cooperation with NATO on military mobility, in the framework of the implementation of the Joint Declaration, is also important. In line with the Council conclusions of December 2017, cooperation and consultation with NATO is taking place at staff level, through regular meetings, on issues of military mobility in all domains (land, maritime, air). The intention is to ensure a coherent approach and synergies between the EU and NATO aiming to effectively address existing barriers, including legal, infrastructure and procedural, in order to facilitate and expedite movement and border crossing of military personnel and material, in full respect of sovereign national decisions. This cooperation will be taken forward in full openness and transparency, respect of the decision-making autonomy and procedures of both organisations, inclusiveness and reciprocity without prejudice to the specific character of the security and defence policy of any EU Member State. Interaction with all relevant stakeholders will aim to optimise coordination and effectiveness so as to grasp all synergies.

Results of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Cross-Border Military Transportation

The present Action Plan builds upon the Roadmap on Military Mobility developed by the Ad Hoc Working Group set up in the framework of the European Defence Agency by decision of its Steering Board in September 2017. The Ad Hoc Working Group Roadmap identified tasks, responsibilities and ambitious timelines for improving military mobility with regards to the following four aspects: legal aspects; customs; military requirements, including infrastructure-related military standards; and cross-border movement permissions, including diplomatic clearances. The European Defence Agency's Steering Board welcomed the Roadmap on 9 February 2018 and tasked the European Defence Agency to pursue further work on improving military mobility, also in the framework of the implementation of this Action Plan, and to report to them on an annual basis on the progress made.

In addition, the EU Member States are engaged in a number of cooperation projects and initiatives facilitated by the European Defence Agency: the Project Team Movement and Transport, the EU Multimodal Transport Huband the Diplomatic Clearances Technical Arrangement.

2.Identified Actions

2.1 Military requirements

The identification and agreement of the military requirements, reflecting the needs of the EU and its Member States, will be the starting point for an effective approach across the EU, encompassing all other actions defined in the following sections. These requirements should include also the definition of the infrastructure needed for military mobility. It requires the EU Member States to follow a whole-of-government approach and involve the competent national authorities beyond the Ministries of Defence.

Key actions at EU level: ·The European External Action Service/EU Military Staff will develop, in close cooperation with the EU Member States, the Commission and relevant Union agencies and bodies (including the European Defence Agency), and in consultation with NATO as appropriate, the military requirements ·By mid-2018, the Council is invited to consider and validate the military requirements, involving the relevant preparatory bodies, including the EU Military Committee.

2.2 Transport infrastructure