EU transport network completely inadequate for any potential military conflict
In an interview with the Financial Times, Tzitzikostas said much of Europe's key infrastructure — including railways, tunnels, and bridges — is either outdated or otherwise woefully inadequate for modern-day military logistics.
'If we want to move military equipment and troops from the western side of Europe to the eastern side, it takes weeks — and in some cases, months,' he said. 'We have old bridges that need to be upgraded, narrow bridges that must be widened, and in some places, no bridges at all.'
Most of Europe's infrastructure was designed for civilian uses post-World War II, making it virtually ineffective for military uses.
As per Tzitzikotas , commercial trucks typically weigh up to 40 tonnes while military tanks can exceed 70 tonnes, putting excessive strain on roads and structures never designed to carry such weight.
Tzitzikostas warned that without urgent upgrades, NATO units could face delays, bottlenecks, or even structural failures if they needed to respond quickly to a security crisis.
The security concerns come amid the EU's increasing worry over the possible worry of a military venture by Russia, despite Moscow maintaining that it has no such intention.
To address its militarisation, Brussels is now finalising a strategic overhaul to address its various military gaps, with plans to upgrade 500 transport hubs along four major military corridors.
The initiative — developed in coordination with NATO — is expected to be unveiled later this year. While project details remain classified, the estimated cost is €17 billion ($19.5 billion). The plan also aims to reduce bureaucratic delays at national borders to allow for seamless military mobility.
Recent moves by the EU to counter the alleged 'Russian threat' also include the €800 billion ($920 billion) 'ReArm Europe' initiative and pledges from NATO members to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP.
For its part, Moscow has completely dismissed these claims calling them ludicrous.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov further levied accusations against Western governments of deliberately portraying Russia as a 'monster' to justify their military expansion, while Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that the West is pushing Europe towards direct military confrontation.
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