BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 7. Boosting the
efficiency of the Middle Corridor would enable the European Union
to speed up and stabilize the flow of goods, including critical raw
materials (CRM), while deepening its connectivity with export
markets across Eurasia, an EU-funded meta-analysis stated, Trend reports.


The assessment is wrapped up in an EU-backed meta-study, which
highlights that even with recent strides, the Trans-Caspian
Transport Corridor (TCTC) still grapples with operational hurdles.
These consist of piecemeal logistics, numerous border hurdles, and
scant digital advancement.


“Studies by international financial institutions (IFI)
consistently emphasize that ‘soft’ bottlenecks, such as harmonized
tariffs, digitalization, and coordinated management, are just as
critical as gaps in ‘hard’ infrastructure,” the study says.


For the EU, boosting the corridor’s efficiency would pave the
way for quicker and more dependable supplies of goods, including
CRM, while opening doors to export markets across Eurasia.


“By supporting priority projects identified in the expansion
plans of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and other
regional strategies, the EU can help unlock the full potential of
the corridor, strengthen supply chain resilience, and promote
mutually beneficial trade,” the study notes.


At the EU level, strategic priorities for transport
infrastructure are defined through TEN-T, including its planned
extensions into neighboring regions. Several TEN-T expansion
projects are contributing to improved connectivity along the TCTC,
giving strategic priority to key investments across the
corridor.







“The TEN-T investment action plan for the Eastern Partnership,
originally developed in 2018, was updated in 2025 to reflect
changing geopolitical realities and shifts in national priorities,
with particular emphasis on Ukraine and Moldova. It is also worth
noting that, although the Middle Corridor is not included in the
list of TEN-T extensions, in light of recent geopolitical
developments in the South Caucasus, the corridor could gain
operational benefits from the creation of resilience-enhancing
branches through the South Caucasus, including the restoration of
links between Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Türkiye. This could further
diversify trade routes and potentially ease congestion at
overloaded sections,” the study concludes.


According to the report, the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development (EBRD) has meanwhile identified 33 priority
investments in “hard” infrastructure in Central Asia needed to
increase capacity and efficiency along the Middle Corridor. The
World Bank has also outlined the main bottlenecks and investment
needs that must be addressed by 2030 to ensure the corridor’s
long-term viability.


The Middle Corridor is a transport and trade route running
through several countries in the region, linking Asia and Europe as
an alternative to the traditional Northern and Southern corridors.
The route begins in China, passes through Central Asian countries
such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, crosses the
Caspian Sea, and continues through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye
before reaching Europe.


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