The official timeline for the implementation of the international transport corridor Aegean – Black Sea – Baltic is expected to be presented in September.
This is a project of great significance that is considered crucial for the EU’s security, connectivity, and competitiveness. The news was announced by Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Dimas, during the 3rd Meeting of the Black Sea – Aegean Sea Corridor Platform (BACP).
He also expressed optimism that Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, and the European Commission will jointly move forward with the implementation of a project with a strong geopolitical and developmental impact. “We have already begun discussing the timelines. The goal is to have a very specific timeline for the implementation of the entire project by September,” stated Mr. Dimas in an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA), noting that the use of European funding instruments comes with specific commitments and deadlines.
Describing today’s meeting—which was attended by political leaders from the ministries of transportation of Greece, as well as representatives of the European Commission and European institutions, Mr. Dimas explained that “the corridor begins at the Greek ports of Thessaloniki, Kavala, and Alexandroupoli, crosses Bulgaria via key points such as Burgas, Varna, and Ruse, and ends in Romania, centered on the port of Constanța, ultimately connecting the Aegean Sea with the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea.”
It should be noted, however, that the initiative aims to strengthen connectivity between ports, rail and road networks, creating a strategic transport corridor of particular importance not only for the three participating countries but also for the European Union as a whole. “Connectivity between critical infrastructure in the three countries is of immense importance, not only for our nations but also for the European Union itself. In a period of heightened geopolitical instability, connecting the eastern part of Europe from south to north is a priority that transcends national interests,” he emphasized.
Mr. Dimas noted that during his talks with the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, his Bulgarian counterpart, and the Romanian delegation the shared commitment to accelerating the processes was reaffirmed, by leveraging European and national resources, as well as private-sector expertise.
“We have reaffirmed once again that together we can achieve much more. This is a project that will strengthen the stability of the European economy, improve connectivity, and generate significant benefits for all participating countries,” he noted.
He thanked European Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas for what he described as leading role in promoting the project, as well as the representatives of Bulgaria and Romania, Mr. Dimas stressed that close cooperation among the three countries is a key prerequisite for the successful implementation of the corridor.
EIB: EIB Support for the Corridor
The European Investment Bank’s support for the Black Sea-Aegean Corridor, as highlighted in his remarks by EIB Vice President Yannis Tsakiris, noting that this involves a series of critical infrastructure projects that strengthen the region’s development, resilience, and security. As he stated, the EIB is contributing not only through financing but also through advisory services, providing specialized engineers to help projects reach maturity more quickly and accelerate their implementation.
Mr. Tsakiris noted that in 2025 alone, the Bank has financed road projects in the wider region with more than 1.5 billion euros, while also evaluating new projects. Regarding 2026, in response to a question from the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA), he stated that the portfolio (pipeline) currently under evaluation and approval includes projects totaling approximately 800 million euros.
He described the cooperation that has developed through successive meetings and the memorandum of understanding (MoU), and noted that decisions are being made at a noticeably faster pace.
The EIB Vice President emphasized that the initiative is not merely a “paper project,” but a project with a tangible impact on development, as road and rail connections along the vertical corridor will become faster and more efficient. At the same time, he underscored their importance for the economy, as well as for military mobility and security in the wider region.
Bulgaria’s Steady Support for the Corridor
Bulgaria’s steadfast political commitment to the implementation of the Black Sea-Aegean Corridor, in his remarks, the country’s Minister of Transport and Communications, Georgi Peev, in his remarks, emphasizing the project’s importance for the region’s connectivity, resilience, and security. “I would like to reaffirm Bulgaria’s political commitment to the practical implementation of this corridor. Connectivity is one of the most important issues, and the project will also strengthen resilience and security,” he noted.
The Bulgarian minister thanked the Greek Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Dimas, for hosting the meeting, emphasizing that the three countries involved will continue to work closely together on the project to advance the initiative. He also expressed his confidence that this joint effort will lead to the successful progress and completion of the project, which is considered of strategic importance for the interconnection of Southeast Europe.
From Planning to Implementation: The Corridor
The message that the Black Sea Corridor – Aegean Corridor is moving from the planning phase to implementation was conveyed by the Consul General of Romania in Thessaloniki, Corina Kretzou, who emphasized the importance of cooperation between Greece, Romania, and Bulgaria.
She also emphasized that the joint initiative of the three countries is evolving into a concrete platform for cooperation, for preparing projects and investments, with the aim of strengthening transportation and economic development in Southeast Europe.
As she noted, the discussions confirmed both the political will and the practical determination to advance the project, which could become one of the region’s most important transportation and development corridors, while also helping to strengthen the European transport network. Among other things, he also highlighted the need for greater European solidarity and closer cooperation among the countries in the region, which are called upon to address common economic and geopolitical challenges.
The Greece-Bulgaria-Romania region: a strategic hub
The geostrategic importance of the Baltic Sea–Black Sea Corridor – Aegean Corridor, emphasizing that Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania are now at the center of developments in Europe.
As he noted, the new strategy for European transport corridors—and specifically the Baltic–Black Sea – Aegean corridor, elevates the role of the countries involved in this corridor, making the region one of the most strategic for the EU.
““The geopolitical reality clearly shows that this is no longer just a peripheral region of the European Union, but a region at the center of international developments,” he emphasized.”
Mr. Mauro stressed that the European institutions remain fully committed to advancing the project, in cooperation with the governments and stakeholders of the three countries. At the same time, he stressed that achieving the corridor’s objectives requires a joint effort and close cooperation among the societies of Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania.
