EU to mobilize €12bn for Middle Corridor linking Caucasus, Central Asia to Europe

September 16, 2026 at 02:02 PM1 min

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the EU will mobilize up to €12 billion in public and private investment for the Middle Corridor. The project aims to directly connect the South Caucasus and Central Asia to the European market. The EU also plans a regional connectivity summit with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev to turn the project into practical reality.

Key Facts

The EU plans to mobilize up to €12 billion in public and private investment for the Middle Corridor through the Global Gateway initiative.
The Middle Corridor will directly connect the South Caucasus and Central Asia to the European market.
The EU aims to triple trade flows and sharply reduce freight transit times by 2030.
A regional connectivity summit will be held with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev to turn the project into practical reality.

Investment and Infrastructure

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the initiative during her State of the European Union address to the European Parliament. The EU will use the Global Gateway initiative to attract up to €12 billion in public and private investment for the Middle Corridor. The corridor passes through Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, and the South Caucasus, and is viewed by Brussels as a route for diversifying trade links.

Strategic Goals and Summit

Von der Leyen stated the EU's goal is to diversify routes, triple trade flows, and sharply reduce freight transit times by 2030. She also announced a regional connectivity summit to be held jointly with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev. The summit aims to turn the Middle Corridor project into practical reality. Von der Leyen linked such partnerships to changes in the international system and the EU's need to strengthen supply chain resilience and protect economic interests.