The view that the time has come to fulfill the promise regarding the European future of the Western Balkans, as set forth in 2003 in the Declaration of in 2003, was expressed today by the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas.
He added that transportation plays an important role in making the 2003 promise a reality, as connectivity accelerates convergence with the EU, brings <a href="https://tomanifesto.gr/economies, reduces barriers to trade, and strengthens competitiveness.
The European Commissioner also pointed out, from Thessaloniki, that the EU has a clear vision for the future of connectivity through the revised TEN-T Regulation, emphasizing that the Commission will closely monitor the relevant projects to ensure that deadlines are met and full accountability is maintained.
Transport corridors do not stop at national borders
“Connectivity in the Western Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine, plays a central role, but we must translate this framework into tangible results (…) and move from planning to implementation. We have enormous opportunities ahead of us, but the challenges are just as significant. We must address long-standing problems and make long-term investments in airports, roads, railways, and ports. There is a development plan for the region, but we recognize that public funding is insufficient. The challenge for us is not only to mobilize funding, but also to foster synergies between governments and international financial institutions, as well as among regional partners. The success of TEN-T depends on regional cooperation. Transport corridors do not stop at national borders,” Mr. Tzitzikostas emphasized.
He added that the new corridors, including the WBEM (Western Balkans European Transport Corridor- Eastern Mediterranean), play a decisive role, and regional cooperation matters during a period of uncertainty and turmoil amid crises. This corridor, he added, is a very important milestone, and there is a collective responsibility to fully complete this project, with a clear timeline and accountability.
According to Mr. Tzitzikostas, the wider region is currently at the beginning of a new chapter. Two weeks ago, he recalled, at the Summit in Montenegro, EU leaders reaffirmed the commitment made at the 2003 Thessaloniki Summit, recognizing that in a world of increased uncertainty, (European) enlargement is a strategic investment in the future and in prosperity.
The Commissioner also made special mention of the fact that Europe is home to leading companies in construction and logistics, as well as infrastructure investors, without whom the goal cannot be achieved, while the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova can provide the skilled workforce. “If we combine the strengths of both sides, the result will be ‘robust’ projects and faster convergencewith EU standards,” he emphasized, adding that infrastructure is needed that will be resilient and capable of supporting military mobility whenever necessary.
Chr. Dimas: Connectivity concerns the very autonomy of the EU
“Connectivity is not an end in itself, but concerns the very strategic autonomy of the EU,” noted, for his part, the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Dimas, referring—among other things—to the Western Balkans and Eastern Mediterranean European Corridor (WBEM), while stressing that the goal now is to move from planning the necessary projects to their implementation.
He made special mention of the role that Greece can play, as it is traversed by major corridors. “Greece is becoming a hub, a bridge, and a critical gateway, connecting the Eastern Mediterranean with the Balkans and the rest of Europe. The Greek government is investing in a highly integrated investment framework, within the context of the (Trans-European Transport Network) TEN-T, to connect with international networks,” he noted, referring to the WBEM as well as the Baltic-Black Sea-Aegean Corridor (BBA). Similarly, he noted, projects such as the IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor) – Europe) make Greece a hub that can bring added value to the wider region.
According to Mr. Dimas, transportation, energy, and digital infrastructure must be treated as pillars of Europe’s long-term competitiveness.
As a hub for energy, logistics, and transportation, combining the strength of four ports and numerous digital networks, Northern Greece was described by the Deputy Minister of the Interior—Macedonia and Thrace, Kostas Gkioulekas, noting that the goal is close cooperation with all neighboring countries.
Robert De Groot (EIB): Connectivity equals resilience
Connectivity is important not only for growth and competitiveness, but also for the broader resilience of countries in times of intense geopolitical turmoil, as pointed out by Robert De Groot, Vice President of the European Investment Bank (EIB). “The question now is how we will translate strategic planning into concrete projects,” he said, adding that achieving this goal requires cooperation and a clear portfolio of mature projects.
“At the EIB, we support Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, and the Western Balkans, where for decades we have been supporting resilience and economic convergence with the EU,” he noted, pointing out that transportation is the largest investment sector in the region, while adding that a total of more than 800 million euros was invested in Ukraine in 2025. “Our job is to continue improving the preparation and coordination of these projects. This requires that we work together, with the valuable support of the European Commission. If we succeed, interconnectivity will be the driving force behind competitiveness, resilience, and prosperity in the wider region,” he concluded.
M. Bowman (EBRD): Strategic coordination is a critical factor
Among the dozens of projects currently being implemented in the Western Balkans in the transportation sector, with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Mark Bowman, the vice president in charge of the international organization, noted. Emphasizing the sector’s importance, he noted that in Ukraine, transportation infrastructure was crucial to the country’s survival.
“Connectivity is about resilience, trust , and the certainty that countries can move forward together and in harmony,” he noted, while emphasizing that both the public sector and private-sector expertise are needed, since every investment in sustainable transportation relies not only on capital but also on institutions capable of planning, implementing, and delivering results over the long term. According to him, strategic coordination is a critical factor. “We need to identify which projects are ready to move forward, which ones we need to accelerate, and how we will attract support from both the public and private sectors,” he summarized.
The conference, held under the auspices of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, is organized by the Transport Community, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
The Western Balkans Transport Community is the EU’s European frameworkfor bringing the Western Balkan partners closer to the EU and its member states through connectivity policies, with its scope of operational activity covering the Western Balkans – Eastern Mediterranean (WBEM) Corridor, within the framework of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T)._
