Written by Ikram Aboutaous and Gabriele Ghio

Following the Russian annexation of Crimea and ensuing concerns for the territorial integrity of European Union members and partners, the functionality of Europe’s logistical infrastructure for fast transport of considerable volumes of military equipment and personnel has been questioned. Therefore, the following study will analyse the current state of Europe’s transport infrastructure regarding military readiness and interoperability capability, identify shortcomings, and develop recommendations for improvement. Specific areas of interest include an investment backlog since the global financial crisis of 2008/09, delayed standardisation and maintenance across Europe, and potential for modernisation, including consideration of digitisation trends. Recommendations will consider the potential for infrastructure development that addresses military and economic security needs, such as focusing on improvements with a dual-use function instead of remnants of separate infrastructures for military and economic purposes from the Cold War era.