EU announces Middle Corridor connectivity project with Central Asia

September 18, 2026 at 03:30 PM2 min

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a new connectivity project linking the South Caucasus and Central Asia directly to the European market. The EU aims to mobilize up to 12 billion euros in public and private investment under the Global Gateway initiative. The announcement came during her annual State of the European Union address to the European Parliament.

Key Facts

The EU plans to mobilize up to 12 billion euros in public and private investment for the Middle Corridor under the Global Gateway initiative.
The corridor aims to triple trade flows and cut freight transport times by 2030.
The route spans over 4,250 km of rail lines and 500 km of sea crossing, 2,000–3,000 km shorter than the northern route through Russia.
In January 2024, European and international financial institutions allocated 10 billion euros for the Trans-Caspian route, and in April 2025 an additional 12 billion euros was announced, including 3 billion euros directly for the Middle Corridor.
Total EU financing for Central Asian connectivity reached 22 billion euros in 2024–2025, according to the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP).

Project Announcement

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the Middle Corridor connectivity project during her State of the European Union address to the European Parliament. The initiative will link the South Caucasus and Central Asia directly to the European market under the Global Gateway framework. The European Commission will organize a regional connectivity summit together with the Prime Minister of Bulgaria. Von der Leyen placed the announcement in the context of broader EU trade partnerships, noting that the EU has signed free trade agreements with India, Mercosur, Mexico, Australia, and Indonesia this year.

Route and Investment

The Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), connects China and Central Asia with Europe via Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey, bypassing Russia. The route is over 4,250 km of rail lines and 500 km of sea crossing, which is 2,000–3,000 km shorter than the northern route through Russia, according to the Caspian Policy Center. EU investment in the corridor under Global Gateway has been growing since 2024. In January 2024, European and international financial institutions allocated 10 billion euros for the Trans-Caspian route. In April 2025, at the EU–Central Asia summit, an additional 12 billion euros was announced, of which 3 billion euros is earmarked directly for the Middle Corridor.