The five countries reaffirmed their commitment to turning Corridor 8 into a fully operational artery of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
Albania, Italy, Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Romania signed a Joint Declaration on Corridor 8 in Tirana, defining it as a strategic axis for connectivity, economic development and regional security, BGNES reported.
The five countries reaffirmed their commitment to turning Corridor 8 into a fully operational artery of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), with direct relevance to the gradual integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union.
The declaration underscores that the corridor, linking the Adriatic and Black Seas, carries political, economic and security significance, contributing to European cohesion and regional stability.
It highlights that coordinated implementation of the project will address longstanding connectivity gaps in Southeast Europe and strengthen both the visibility and impact of the EU’s engagement in the region.
Security and military mobility feature prominently in the document. The five countries confirmed their commitment to advancing Corridor 8 as a priority within enhanced EU–NATO cooperation, contributing directly to the security of the Alliance’s southeastern and eastern flanks. In this context, they recalled the Letter of Intent signed at the 2024 Washington Summit on establishing a Harmonised Military Mobility Corridor along Pan-European Corridor 8.
On the economic front, the signatories agreed that investment in sustainable, crisis-resilient and interoperable infrastructure is essential for the region’s gradual integration into the EU Single Market. They stressed the need to mobilise funding from EU instruments, including the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), IPA III and the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF).
The declaration also condemns Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and reaffirms support for international efforts to achieve a lasting peace.
The five European states agreed to consolidate the five-party format as a permanent political platform to accelerate the implementation of Corridor 8 and to keep it high on both national and European agendas. | BGNES