NATO may establish “military Schengen” zone

NATO countries could agree on the introduction of a military equivalent of the Schengen zone before the alliance's summit in Washington in July.

“Military Schengen” will allow NATO military personnel to virtually freely travel visa-free between member countries of the alliance, The Times reports, citing sources.

According to the publication, for this purpose, negotiations are currently underway to create a series of “military corridors” throughout Europe.

As the publication writes, a “significant headache” for NATO is the confusion in the rules that limit the exchange and transportation of military equipment not only between countries, but also between different parts of Germany.

It is clarified that cross-border exercises often “involve dizzying quantities of paperwork that would cost critical time in a military crisis.”

The head of NATO's Joint Sustainment and Logistics Command (JSEC), General Alexander Sollfrank, confirmed in an interview with The Times that the alliance is interested in reducing the number of bureaucratic obstacles.

As an example, he said that paratroopers are prohibited from using parachutes from other EU member states, even if they are fully operational.