KYIV, July 10. /Dunyo IA/. European Commission (EC) has announced the launch of a connectivity platform for Central Asia, the South Caucasus and the Black Sea, aimed at coordinating strategic investments in transport, energy, digital infrastructure and trade, reports Dunyo IA correspondent, citing with reference to the “Kyiv Diplomatic” magazine.

Platform was presented at a high-level ministerial meeting organized by the Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos; Czech Commissioner responsible for international partnerships Jozef Síkela and European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas.

Meeting was attended by transport ministers and senior representatives of EU member states, countries of Central Asia, the South Caucasus, Türkiye, Ukraine and Moldova, as well as the G7 and international financial institutions.

Concurrently, agreements were signed with international financial institutions that will mobilize up to 2 billion euros for the development of transport infrastructure, the modernization of border-crossing checkpoints and the facilitation of trade procedures.

Participants paid special attention to increasing the efficiency of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor), which is becoming increasingly critical as a reliable and sustainable corridor between Europe and Central Asia. The EC is invited to evaluate the functioning of the corridor and identify priority measures to enhance its competitiveness.

New platform is part of the “Global Gateway EU” strategy and provides for the coordination of joint projects aimed at strengthening transport, energy, and digital links between the European Union and Central Asia through the South Caucasus and the Black Sea region. The implementation of the initiative is directed at facilitating the development of international trade, increasing transport connectivity and expanding economic cooperation among the participating nations.