ESTA has renewed its call for Europe to develop a network of abnormal transport corridors to support the needs of both the military and industry.
Details were contained in a new ESTA background paper sent to MEPs this week. This was a response to the European Commission’s White Paper on Defence Readiness 2030 in which military mobility was one of the key issues.
Publication of the White Paper was followed by a debate in the European Parliament on April 2 on the importance of transport infrastructure in supporting both Europe’s security and economy.
Before the debate, ESTA’s paper was submitted to all MEPs involved in the Parliament’s influential transport and tourism committee.
ESTA Director Ton Klijn said: “We welcome the publication of the White Paper for Defence as well as the recognition of the military transport as a key enabler of European resilience.
“Although significant progress has been made in recent years, there remain considerable obstacles to moving troops and equipment unhindered across the EU. Military mobility, like abnormal transport, faces significant administrative and infrastructural barriers.
“Current non-harmonised procedures often cause severe delays in the issuance of cross-border permits. This is why the EU and Member States need to immediately simplify and streamline regulations and procedures.”
Abnormal transport is a key element of military mobility instrumental in transporting military equipment across Europe and to third countries.
Current proposals to streamline and harmonise the rules faced by abnormal transport operators in Europe are contained in planned revisions of the Weights and Dimensions Directive, currently making its way through the legislative process – revisions are crucial for Europe’s industrial and military efficiency.
But original calls for these proposals to contain a commitment to developing abnormal transport corridors across Europe have to date been shelved.
The European Union and national transport authorities have long been pressed to agree heavy and abnormal transport corridors throughout Europe in the wake of increasing concern about deteriorating infrastructure.
Now ESTA is saying that policy should be revived in light of Europe’s growing defence requirements and is urging Europe’s political leaders to ensure that defence and transport policies are coordinated and aligned.
Klijn continued: “Given the growing importance of military transport due to current defence and security challenges, it is important to facilitate cross-border operations for abnormal road transports.
“This is why, alongside the proposed reforms to the directive, ESTA is equally calling on EU decision makers to establish “abnormal road transport corridors”, following the trans-European road network.
“These corridors should include the roads with a high economic relevance and based on the road network, road pavements, bridges and other specific road structures, that are classified as adequate to carry abnormal road transports.”
The full text of the ESTA background paper is in the public Library of this website here -https://estaeurope.eu/docs/library/transport/esta-reaction-to-the-white-paper-for-european-defence-readiness-2030-march-2025/