Transport ministers in Vilnius reaffirm commitment to military mobility in Europe

On Tuesday, the 27th of May, in Vilnius, transport ministers representing Eastern and Northern European countries, along with EU and NATO representatives, convened to discuss further enhancement and strengthening of military mobility corridors and infrastructure in the region and across Europe. Against deteriorating security challenges, the ministers underscored the need for stronger EU investment in developing military mobility corridors, reports Lithuanian Transport Ministry.
Twelve countries agreed on a statement emphasising the need to allocate more resources to military mobility – including roads, railways, seaports, airports, and other strategic assets – to bolster European defence, resilience, and the overall efficiency of the transport system.
The statement calls on the European Union to recognise these initiatives as strategic priorities, which must be supported with increased funding under the 2028–2034 EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework.
“Today’s geopolitical situation clearly shows the need for united action to reinforce our strategic transport networks and increase investment in military mobility. Infrastructure must serve people and economies in peacetime while remaining resilient in crises and wartime. It is an essential element of our collective defence,” said Lithuanian Minister of Transport and Communications, Eugenijus Sabutis.
As Minister Sabutis noted, large-scale infrastructure projects such as Rail Baltica – previously regarded mainly as commercial ventures – are now emerging as essential components of Europe’s broader security framework. Once completed, travel by rail will take just 2.1 hours from Vilnius to the Polish border, 3.3 hours from Riga, and 5.7 hours from Tallinn – gaining approximately 50% in time and constituting a significant step toward improving regional connectivity.
The Bucharest Nine is a regional political and security cooperation initiative comprising nine EU and NATO member states from Central and Eastern Europe: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary. The platform was launched in 2015 during a summit of heads of state in Bucharest.