Lawmakers stick with Commission’s funding plan, criticise Irish presidency’s proposed 11 per cent budget cut to Connecting Europe. But a deal may still emerge before the final trologie on 9 December.

Trouble seems to be brewing around the European Commission Military Mobility Package. Defence Commisisoner Andrius Kubilius was scheduled to brief the Strasbourg plenary on Tuesday about whatever trilogue progress the package had scored. Instead, just the parliamentary rapporteurs run the show at the press conference — and they made it clear that it is the Irish presidency what stands in the way.

“Legislation must be supported by investment,” EP member Michał Szczerba (EPP/POL) said. He and Roberts Zīle (ECR/LAT), his co-rapporteur mentioned that Dublin’s latest budget proposal, debated last week, cuts the Connecting Europe Facility by about 11 per cent. That includes military mobility.

Standing by the Commission

An Italian reporter asked if the was any measurable target for 2028. Mr Zīle declined. “It’s out of scope of this military mobility regulation.” He added that nobody knows the final figure. “I cannot comment on 28, and nobody can. Yet.”

Mr Szczerba (EPP/POL) welcomed the Commission’s plan. He put it at €18bn and promised that Parliament will defend it. The Commission proposes €17.65bn for 2028-2034, roughly ten times the €1.69bn allocated for 2021-2027.

I cannot comment on 28 and nobody can. — MEP Roberts Zīle (ECR/LAT)

Mr Zīle recalled that during the negotiations establishing the current log.term budget, EU leaders once cut military mobility from about €6bn to zero for one night. They then restored €1.7bn. Leaders return in mid-December to settle the budget. The Latvian member would not exclude the possibility of yet another surprise of that nature.

A reporter asked whether a deal by year-end is still realistic. Mr Zīle said yes. Parliament is on track for 9 December, the date of the last trilogue. It will probably need a long night, he said, which is nothing new in these talks.

A deal by December?

The co-rapporteur then explained why the talks are hard. The Commission, as the executive, drafted the text, and Parliament is on board, in this particular case. The Council is more complicated, because both defence and transport ministries have a stake and member states guard their sovereignty over defence.

Mr Szczerba went on to flex the Parliament’s muscle. A huge majority backed its position in July. Before the trilogue, he again united several political groups. The priorities are clear: simpler procedures, NATO interoperability, secure digitalisation, and resilient infrastructure. “Military mobility depends on roads, railways, bridges, ports and airports,” the Polish co-rapporteur presented a somewhat self-evident statement.

Mr Zīle said Ukraine shows how much time matters. A war on EU soil has not come, and perhaps never will, he said. But he argued that Europe must show strength to prevent one. ‘Our potential enemies are looking forward how successful this pilot will be.

Compromises and commissioners

A Belgian reporter then pressed the pair. Had the trilogue produced real compromises? Do the commissioners need to explain the sticking points? Mr Zīle said the technical teams are working well and know Parliament’s position. “We trust them very much.” He called them no bottleneck.

Commissioner Kubilius had explained the scale of a move, Mr Zīle said. A brigade is 5,000 personnel and a division 15,000. The Commissioner counted wagons and kilometres of track. Mr Zīle wanted no further explanation. The regulation, he said, costs almost nothing at EU level.

Legislation must be supported by investment. — MEP Michał Szczerba (EPP/POL)

Its task is narrow. “We have to remove all the obstacles which are bureaucratic obstacles.” The emergency part, EMERS, waits for December. The technical teams have not prepared it yet. It would prioritise military movements in extraordinary crises.

Mr Szczerba said both commissioners understand the urgency. “It’s not a theoretical regulation.” Parliament, he said, has also reached a clear view on digital systems, though he gave no details. The European Defence Fund has separately backed a €9m project for secure information exchange.

Liability, Norway and a promise

Another question sough more light shed on liability and payment for civilian firms drawn into military transport. Mr Zīle would not discuss the matter. He said Parliament’s position covers compensation and liability, and the others do not. “We will not forget it.” Last week, he said, he met rail freight operators and infrastructure managers in Vilnius. They raised the same issues. Whether the trilogue has decided anything will be known in December.

A Norwegian reporter asked about Oslo’s request to join Council procedures. Mr Zīle said that is for the Council to decide, Parliament cannot influence it. Mr Szczerba said the regulation leaves space for non-EU NATO members, including Norway, and for Ukraine and Moldova.

Mr Szczerba then closed on the aim. “This is what we mean by a military Schengen.” The Commission wants an EU military-mobility area by 2027. Mr Zīle gave the rule. “Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.” When (and if) a deal comes, he promised a fuller briefing. The next round is scheduled to 9 December.