EU to invest €12bn in transport route through Kazakhstan

September 21, 2026 at 11:03 AM2 min

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a €12 billion investment package for the Middle Corridor transport route linking Central Asia and the Caucasus to Europe. The initiative, part of the Global Gateway program, aims to triple trade volumes and cut transit times by 2030. Kazakhstan plays a leading role in the route, which bypasses Russia.

Key Facts

The EU plans to attract €12 billion in public and private investment for the Middle Corridor by 2030.
The Middle Corridor spans about 6,000 kilometers, including 700–800 kilometers across the Caspian Sea.
Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey are key transit countries on the route.
The EU aims to triple trade volumes and significantly reduce transit times by 2030.
A transport summit is planned with Bulgaria's prime minister to advance the project.

Investment Announcement

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the launch of a new international transport project during her State of the European Union address to the European Parliament. The project will directly connect the South Caucasus and Central Asia with the European market via the Middle Corridor. Under the Global Gateway initiative, the EU seeks to mobilize €12 billion in public and private investment for the corridor. The EU aims to diversify routes, triple trade volumes, and substantially reduce freight transit times by 2030.

Route and Kazakhstan's Role

The Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, runs from China to Europe through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey, bypassing Russia. The route's total length is approximately 6,000 kilometers, including 700–800 kilometers across the Caspian Sea bed. After crossing the Caspian to Baku, the corridor splits into two main directions: via Georgia and Turkey by rail, and via Georgian ports Poti and Batumi with onward sea delivery to Europe. Kazakhstan occupies one of the leading roles in the route, with cargo volumes planned to exceed 10 million tons by 2027.