ESTA has written to the European Commission in support of the recently published White Paper on military mobility – but has said that to be effective the policy needs to be backed up by action to minimise bureaucracy and harmonize national standards for heavy and abnormal transport.
The Commission’s document – White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030 – was published earlier this year and the subject has assumed even greater importance in light of the recent discussions about the future of Ukraine.
The White Paper sets out seven priority areas which are critical to build a robust European defence, including the need to facilitate military mobility “though an EU-wide network of land corridors, airports, seaports and support elements and services”.
This has added huge weight to ESTA’s long running calls for Europe both to sharply increase investment in infrastructure and develop a network of connected heavy transport corridors on which that investment could be focussed.
These corridors could follow the trans-European road network and also include roads of high economic relevance such as roads to industrial areas and ports.
In its letter to the Commission last month, ESTA strongly welcomed the publication of the White Paper and its recommendations, but added that bureaucratic and administrative reforms are also essential.
ESTA Director Ton Klijn added: “Current regulations, such as those governing signage or permits for heavy and abnormal transports, differ from country to country and in some cases even from district to district.
“This often causes severe delays and European states urgently need to streamline and harmonise the regulations and procedures which are a key element in military mobility as well as Europe’s energy and industrial economy.”
Many of the measures that ESTA has been requesting for many years are contained in the proposed revisions of the EU’s Weights and Transport Directive (96/53).
Importantly, the revisions include the Europe-wide adoption of the standard SERT documentation for abnormal load vehicle registration – a move that ESTA has supported for many years.
Other measures include:
- a ‘one stop shop’ per country for permits
- standardised permit application forms
- use of electronic permits
- harmonisation of escorting rules and vehicle markings
- a ban on language requirements for drivers
- permitting systems to be available in all EU languages
Klijn added: “These reforms are essential and have been a long time coming. We are hopeful that they will receive final approval during the current Danish presidency whose term ends in December this year.”