Brussels,

International relations

MOBILITY & TRANSPORT

​The EU's international transport policy extends its reach beyond borders, engaging in a wide array of activities tailored to various transport modes and the specific needs of different countries and regions.

​Key Focus Areas of EU International Transport Cooperation:
  1. Extending Internal Market Rules: The EU actively works within international organizations to expand its internal market rules globally, ensuring that European principles guide international transport standards.
  2. Promoting European Standards: A significant part of the EU's international transport strategy involves advocating for European safety, security, and environmental standards on the global stage.
  3. Market Liberalization and Sustainable Solutions: The EU prioritizes opening up transport services, products, and investment markets in third countries to foster free, undistorted competition, and environmentally sustainable practices.
  4. Extending Transport and Infrastructure Policy: A crucial aim is to extend the EU's transport and infrastructure policies to neighboring countries, ensuring a seamless and efficient transport system that transcends EU borders.
  5. Flexible Strategic Approaches: The Commission is dedicated to adopting adaptable strategies to cement the EU's position as a leading standard-setter in the global transport sector.

Types of International Transport Relations:

The EU engages in various forms of international transport relations, focusing on:
  1. Enlargement Countries: Collaborating with countries in the process of joining the EU to align their transport systems with EU standards.
  2. European Neighbourhood Policy Countries: Working with neighboring countries to ensure a cohesive transport system that benefits both sides.
  3. Bilateral Relations with Other Third Countries: Establishing individual relationships with non-EU countries to foster mutual benefits in the transport sector.

These efforts are underpinned by the vision set out in the White Paper "Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area – Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system" (2011), guiding the EU's approach to creating a sustainable, competitive, and efficient transport system on an international scale.

Turkey

Turkey is a pivotal transport partner for the EU due to its strategic geographic position bridging Europe, the Middle East, and the Caucasus. This makes Turkey integral to extending the Trans-European Network for Transport (TEN-T) into neighboring regions.
Key Points in EU-Türkiye Transport Relations:
  1. Strategic Role in TEN-T Extension: Turkey's location is crucial for the expansion of TEN-T into adjacent countries, enhancing connectivity and transport integration.
  2. EU Accession Process: As an EU candidate country, Turkey's transport relations with the EU are being shaped within the accession framework. This involves discussions on two chapters related to transport: Chapter 14 (Transport Policy) and Chapter 21 (Trans European networks).
  3. Negotiations and Developments:
    • Chapter 14 (Transport Policy): Negotiations have been stalled since December 2006 due to the Council's decision, which requires Turkey to fully implement the Additional Protocol to the Association Agreement in a non-discriminatory manner for progress on eight chapters, including Chapter 14.
    • Chapter 21 (Trans European networks): There has been notable progress, with the Turkish comprehensive network being incorporated into the Commission's proposal for the new TEN-T guidelines in 2011.
  4. Aviation Cooperation: The EU and Turkey have a strong partnership in aviation. The initiation of the EU-Türkiye Horizontal Air Agreement in March 2010 is a testament to this, and the agreement is anticipated to be signed soon.
  5. Financial Support and Capacity Building: The EU is committed to financially supporting infrastructure development and institutional capacity building in Turkey. Through the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA), the EU has funded numerous Technical Assistance projects in rail transport and initiatives aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the Civil Aviation Authority and Maritime authorities.
In summary, Turkey's strategic role in the extension of TEN-T and its position as an EU candidate country underline the importance of its transport relationship with the EU. Despite some challenges in the negotiation process, cooperation in fields like aviation and ongoing financial support for infrastructure and institutional development highlight a multifaceted and evolving partnership.

Western Balkans

The Western Balkans Six (WB6) initiative, which began in 2014 with the participation of political leaders from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Kosovo (designation aligned with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion), Montenegro, and Serbia, is aimed at invigorating regional cooperation, with a primary focus on developing and interconnecting transport and energy infrastructure to stimulate growth and employment.

Key Aspects of the Connectivity Agenda in the Western Balkans:
  1. "Connectivity Agenda": This initiative aims to enhance the connections within the Western Balkans and between the region and the EU, recognized as a significant driver for regional economic growth and job creation.
  2. EU Endorsement and Support: The EU has consistently endorsed and supported this agenda. It involves an indicative extension of the Trans-European Transport network (TEN-T), including core network, core network corridors, and pre-identified priority projects for infrastructure investment in the Western Balkans.
  3. Integration and Investment Leverage: Extending the TEN-T core network corridors into the Western Balkans is pivotal for deeper integration with the EU and serves as a foundation for attracting investment in infrastructure. This includes EU support mechanisms like the  Western Balkans Investment Framework  (WBIF) and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).
  4. Broad-Spectrum Connectivity Enhancements: While infrastructure development is crucial, broader measures are equally important for improving connectivity. These include the implementation of technical standards and softer measures such as aligning and simplifying border crossing procedures, railway reforms, advancements in information systems, road safety and maintenance schemes, railway unbundling, and facilitating third-party access.

​In essence, the focus on building and connecting transport and energy infrastructure under the WB6 initiative is not just about physical links. It encompasses a comprehensive approach involving infrastructure, policy reforms, standardization, and investment support, all aimed at bolstering growth, creating jobs, and bringing tangible benefits to the economies and citizens of the Western Balkans and fostering closer ties with the EU.

Eastern Partnership (EaP)

The Eastern Partnership (EaP), established in 2009, represents a collaborative initiative between the EU and six partner countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine. This partnership builds upon bilateral relations and has been intensified through the signing of Association Agreements and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTAs) with Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.

​Key Components of the Eastern Partnership in the Transport Sector:
  1. EaP Regional Transport Network: Recognized in 2013 and included in the indicative Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) maps, this network underscores the commitment to enhancing transport connectivity within the EaP region and with the EU.
  2. Regulatory Convergence: Following the Association Agreements with the EU, regulatory convergence has become a focal point, particularly for countries involved in these agreements. This convergence aims to align the partner countries' regulations and standards more closely with those of the EU, fostering a harmonized and efficient transport sector.
  3. Regional Transport Cooperation and Capacity Building: The EaP emphasizes comprehensive transport cooperation and capacity-building measures across all transport modes, facilitating an integrated approach to transport infrastructure development, policy formulation, and operational efficiency.

​Through these components, the EaP aims to foster closer ties, enhance transport connectivity, and promote regulatory alignment and sectoral cooperation between the EU and its eastern partners, thereby contributing to the overall stability, prosperity, and integration of the region.

Policy and other related documents

  1. Republic of Armenia
  2. Azerbaijan
  3. Belarus
  4. Republic of Moldova
  5. Ukraine
  6. Georgia
Eastern Partnership Transport Panel

The Eastern Partnership was launched in May 2009 in order to enhance the cooperation with six countries of Eastern Europe and Southern Caucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.

The Eastern Partnership Transport Panel was established on 23 September 2011 . The Panel is a framework for exchange of information and best practice between the partner countries and the EU Member States. Its goal is to strengthen transport connections both between the partner countries and the EU and between partner countries themselves. It addresses reforms underpinning regulatory convergence across transport modes.

12th Eastern partnership transport panel documents
11th Eastern partnership transport panel documents
10th Eastern partnership transport panel documents

Central Asia

The European Commission, in alignment with the EU Strategy on Central Asia (2019) and the Global Gateway Strategy (2021), conducted a comprehensive study to develop sustainable transport corridors connecting Europe with Central Asia. The study, which ran from November 2021 to June 2023, was spearheaded by the European Commission and executed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

​Objectives of the Study:
​
  1. Identifying Sustainable Transport Corridors: The study aimed to pinpoint the most sustainable transport corridors linking the five Central Asian republics (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) with the EU's extended Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). The corridors were assessed based on stringent sustainability criteria, encompassing environmental, social, economic, fiscal/debt sustainability, and political viability.
  2. Proposing Key Actions for Corridor Development: Recommendations were made regarding both physical infrastructure (hard connectivity) and enabling environments (soft connectivity). These proposals were prioritized based on a coherent and sustainable transport corridor development approach.

Geographical Scope and Methodology:

The study evaluated existing and potential new corridors to ensure the most sustainable transport connections between the five Central Asian republics and the EU’s TEN-T. This network not only covers the 27 EU Member States but also extends to the Western Balkans, Eastern Partnership countries (including the Caucasus), and Türkiye.

Comprehensive assessments of the current transport networks in the region were conducted, supplemented by consultations with a wide range of stakeholders, including Central Asian countries, EU Member States, the private sector, relevant UN bodies, international organizations and associations, International Financial Institutions (IFIs), civil society organizations, interest groups, and more.

Outcomes of the Study:

The study identifies 33 hard infrastructure investment needs across the region. These investments span modernization and reconstruction of existing railways/roads, establishment of additional rail/road links, fleet expansion, port capacity enhancement, procurement of rolling stock, and development of logistics centers and warehousing facilities. In addition, 7 coordinated actions on soft connectivity measures were proposed.

These include trade facilitation, regulatory measures, digitalization, harmonization of tariffs, customs procedures, border controls, interoperability, market liberalization, and more. These targeted, concrete, and implementable actions aim to enhance the competitiveness, economic attractiveness, and operational efficiency of the trans-Caspian transport connections. They present opportunities for all five Central Asian countries to enhance their sustainable economic development by improving connectivity within the region and with Europe.