The European Commission announced the launch of a new platform intended for Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and the Black Sea region. The goal of this initiative is to coordinate strategic investments in transport, energy, and digital infrastructure, as well as to promote trade development.
The new program was presented at a high-level ministerial meeting. Commissioners of the European Commission participated in the event: Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement; Josef Sikela, Commissioner for International Partnership; and Apostolos Tsitsikostas, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism. The meeting brought together transport ministers and senior representatives from member states of the European Union, countries of Central Asia, the South Caucasus, Turkey, Ukraine, and Moldova, as well as delegations from G7 countries and international financial institutions.
Simultaneously, agreements were signed with international financial institutions providing for the mobilization of up to two billion euros. These funds will be directed towards developing transport infrastructure, modernizing border crossings, and improving trade procedures. Participants particularly emphasized increasing the efficiency of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, known as the Middle Corridor.
The European Commission stressed the growing importance of the Middle Corridor as a reliable and sustainable transport route between Europe and Central Asia, and called for an assessment of its functioning to determine priority measures for enhancing competitiveness. This platform was created within the framework of the EU Global Partnership strategy and ensures the coordination of joint projects aimed at strengthening transport, energy, and digital links between the European Union and Central Asia via the South Caucasus and the Black Sea region. The implementation of this initiative is expected to contribute to the development of international trade, increased transport connectivity, and expanded economic cooperation.
