AII Round Table on Connectivity – 13 March 2025, Athens
The Adriatic Ionian Initiative (AII) Round Table titled “Promotion of Connectivity as a Vital EU Enlargement Tool – Challenges and Opportunities of the Western Balkans – Eastern Mediterranean European Transport Corridor” will be held in Athens on Thursday, 13 March 2025, from 11:00 to 14:00 (UTC+02:00). The event will explore the role of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) in strengthening EU connectivity and addressing key transport challenges in the region.
Brief Description:
The aim is to provide room for debate on policy development and identify challenges and potential through the new Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). The ambition of the TEN-T policy is to provide seamless, sustainable and efficient transport throughout the Union, while strengthening social, economic and territorial cohesion. High-quality multimodal connections between all capital cities and the main transport arteries of the Union are the cornerstone of the Single European Transport Area.
Moreover TEN-T policy is the facilitator of connectivity not only across EU but also between EU and neighbouring countries. The new TEN-T Regulation provides the opportunity to enhance significantly the connection and the seamless circulation of people and goods, by revitalizing routes that had been abolished decades ago and created a gap in the European transport system. We are certainly at a cross road: The revised TEN-T network with the new European Transport Corridors and their extensions to third countries are - for the first time - aligned with the rail freight corridors, capturing the demand for transport. It’ s implementation also takes also place at a critical time, as traditional and well-established logistics chains have interrupted due to the Russian aggression against Ukraine. This has led us to appreciate the concept of «alternative routes» and to reassess the importance of the complementarity of transport modes.
The creation of the “Western Balkans - Eastern Mediterranean” European Transport Corridor, is therefore a very important development that will bring our Western Balkans partners closer to the EU economy and thus promote their European integration. Τhe “corridor impact” will give an impetus to speed up the construction of new transport infrastructure, bridge missing links, in particular cross-border projects, and, where appropriate, upgrade the existing infrastructure bringing it up to the standards of the TEN-T requirements. The exploitation of railway connection with significant ports of Eastern Mediterranean, will benefit the seamless circulation of goods to Central Europe.
However, the participation of EU and non-EU Members, challenges the preparedness to implement the commitments of completion of Trans European core network. It is imperative that adequate resources will be needed in order to synchronize the development of this corridor, thereby maximizing network benefits.
The event will be accessible online. Please request the link for online access by contacting This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..