The European Union and NATO have agreed on a €100 billion infrastructure project that will lay the foundations for a military "Schengen" zone, aimed at speeding up the movement of troops and military equipment across Europe.
This was stated by the Commissioner for Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, during a conference held on Thursday in Athens.
The project, he said, involves the development of 500 "key points," where infrastructure to facilitate military mobility will be created or strengthened over the next three to four years.
According to him, this will significantly speed up the time needed to transfer troops and materials from one part of the bloc to another, both for military exercises and in cases of emergencies.
Tzitzikostas also said that a common reserve, or "pool", of military equipment will be created, modeled after the EU's civil protection mechanism.
"The regulation will be ready by 2027 and the infrastructure in early 2030," he added.
The European Commissioner expressed optimism for this year's tourist season, despite tensions in the Middle East, which have caused flight disruptions and increased fuel prices.
He said tourists should feel confident about booking their summer holidays in Europe, as fuel supplies for aircraft remain guaranteed.
"We have no sign that we are running out of jet fuel," Tzitzikostas said, adding that 70% of the fuel is produced within the EU and that the bloc has significant reserves, which the European Commission is currently mapping.