EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said the European Union should step up development of alternative transport and energy links involving Azerbaijan, Armenia and Türkiye amid geopolitical shifts and disruptions to traditional routes via Russia and the Middle East, Report informs.
Speaking at an extraordinary hearing of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Kos outlined EU priorities for developing the Middle Corridor, which connects Europe to Central Asia via the South Caucasus.
"With northern routes no longer available and southern routes also constrained, the best option is the Middle Corridor - a peace corridor - and we are working on it," she said.
Kos noted that Azerbaijan, Armenia and Türkiye play key roles in this context.
She said the EU is already cooperating with Baku and is preparing a feasibility study for the Nakhchivan railway, while talks with Ankara on improving transport connectivity are ongoing.
Kos added that the EU views Armenia as part of a broader strategy to develop sustainable transport, energy and digital links in the region, noting that the bloc has already financed an energy system project between Armenia and Georgia to boost regional resilience.
She said infrastructure development is closely linked to efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement between Yerevan and Baku.
"Connectivity is also a contribution to peace," she said, adding that the EU is strengthening its support for dialogue between the two countries.
Kos also highlighted Türkiye's strategic importance as a key transit hub, a major trade partner for the EU and an important security player in the Black Sea region.
According to the European Commission, cargo volumes via the South Caucasus have quadrupled since 2022 and could triple again by 2030 with appropriate investment.
Brussels is therefore increasing its focus on the region as a critical link in a new Eurasian connectivity architecture.