EC launches platform to develop transport connectivity in Black Sea region, South Caucasus

BRUSSELS. June 23 (Interfax) - The European Commission has launched the Connectivity Agenda Platform to support the development of transport infrastructure in the Black Sea region and the South Caucasus.

"At a time of growing conflict, it is great to see so many countries come together around a shared project. We need reliable trade routes, and the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor has emerged as exactly that," the EC said in a statement, quoting Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos.

Trade along the route could increase fivefold over the next 15 years, Kos said. "Many projects and initiatives are already under way. The Platform will connect them, fill the remaining infrastructure gaps and link the route from end to end," she said.

The EC said that, to support the implementation of the Connectivity Agenda, it had concluded statements of intent with international financial institutions expected to mobilize up to 2 billion euros for investments in transport infrastructure, border crossing points and trade facilitation across the Black Sea region and the South Caucasus.

The Platform was unveiled at a high-level ministerial meeting that brought together ministers of transport and senior representatives from EU Member States, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, alongside representatives of the G7 and international financial institutions,

The Connectivity Agenda Platform will provide a "framework for participating countries, international financial institutions and other stakeholders to coordinate investments and policy action across transport, energy, digital connectivity and trade sectors."

To further strengthen the cooperation with the region, the participants also agreed to strengthen the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor's operational performance.