Red tape
The current problem is that the movement of troops and military equipment across European borders requires a lot of red tape in the form of diplomatic clearances and visas before any movement can take place. When crossing this material across borders in European member states a lot of paperwork needs to be done. Countries have to be informed when and where troops and equipment will cross their border and how long their movement will take. It is only when the country gives its approval that a movement can be done.
The reason for all this red tape is simple as no country wants to be left in the dark about the movement of foreign troops in the dark. It also slows down the prospect of moving military equipment fast or organise large multi nation exercises inside the EU. The current reality however is now forcing the EU to rethink this principle.
The movement of foreign troops through another country gave cause to concern in the past as these troops would be well placed to start a conflict within a country, taken the armed forces of that country by surprise. The peaceful coexistence of European nations since the creation of the EU renders such fears inadequate. All the paperwork needed also plays in the hands of the Russian Federation who can now concentrate forces on Europe’s eastern borders much faster than the EU can match.
Tank Schengen
The Baltic States thus propose the undo or severely reduce all the diplomatic clearances and visas needed to move troops and military equipment between EU member states. Their proposal is to create something based on the Schengen Zone that is already in place. Given the peaceful coexistence between EU member states the fear and concerns that one used to have about foreign troops passing through ones country has become unbiased. As such it has to become easier for the EU to move the military forces throughout Europe in order to build up troop levels, either for large scale exercises or for deterrence, much faster in order to react faster to events happening around the European Union.
For the point of view of the Baltic States this proposal is in these current times most needed. Russia’s aggressive actions coupled with the exposed position of the Baltic States make them fear that they could become the next targets of Russia’s military expansionism as seen in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine. Allowing the EU to move its troops faster through Europe will serve the military needs and challenges of the smallest and most exposed EU members and will add an additional layer of deterrence against Russia.
The proposal of the Baltic States is warmly applauded by most EU members in Eastern and Central Europa. The Polish government even replied that if a Tank Schengen could not be created then the EU members should become more creative in using the current Schengen Zone. They even went as far as to propose to call their tanks tractors since the free movement of tractors falls under the Schengen Zone.
The Polish statement might sound ridiculous but touches the painful reality that the EU has done a lot of work trying to integrate its members in one big union but remains slow to make the integration of the armed forces of the EU member nations a reality.
It is also funny to notice how calling tank tractors is not the first time that European Nations used this term to circumvent existing agreements. More than 70 years ago the Germans disguised their tank program by calling them tractors to circumvent the regulations of the Versailles Treatment that stripped the German Army of tanks after World War One. If the Polish statement is a joke then surely it’s a painful and sinister joke about how things are on the military level in the EU.
Bigger implications
The creation of the so called Tank Schengen will not only serve the needs of the Baltic States by allowing friendly nations to send their troops and equipment in faster, it also has bigger implications beyond just the defence and deterrence in Eastern Europe.
The Tank Schengen will be a small but necessary step in streamlining the armed forces of the EU and help pave the way in a full integration of all these armed forces in a European Army. Many EU members are however very reluctant to give up their sovereignty or transfer that kind of power to the EU level, fearing that they are no longer in control of their countries. Since armed forces constitute one of the last legal reasons for a country to claim and defend its sovereignty it makes sense that a lot of countries do not want to give up the control of their armed forces to the higher EU level.
If a Tank Schengen could pave the way and help speed up the process of creating a European Army then it is expected that this proposal will be resisted or at least reduced in scale even if the military necessity for it on the EU level is real.
The creation of the Tank Schengen will improve the capabilities inside the EU to conduct military exercises much faster and easier or to build up deterrence faster than currently is the case. This will increase the strategic and operational capabilities of the EU but at the same time it raises the question on what to do with NATO members.
A Tank Schengen will only be available for EU members and will leave out non-EU NATO members. Countries like Canada and the United States will still have to go through the red tape and get the diplomatic approval to move their forces through Europe. Extending the Tank Schengen to include non-EU NATO members will be seen by many as a bridge to far but this does not mean that some amendments to current procedures could be made to make it easier for these NATO members to move troops and equipment to and through the EU but not going as far as given them total and free movement.
Conclusion
The Tank Schengen proposal is an interesting one that could benefit the most smallest or most strategic exposed EU members but will be faced by dogged resistance from other EU members who want to remain in control of all military affairs in their countries and are adverse of given the EU more military power for fear that this will undermine the sovereignty of the individual EU members. And while a Tank Schengen will make military movement throughout the EU a lot easier it remains to be seen how this proposal will serve the whole NATO alliance.
