European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced a new international connectivity project, the "Middle Corridor," which will invest over 12 billion euros in public and private funds to connect the South Caucasus and Central Asia with the European market. The project aims to diversify transport routes, triple trade flows, and reduce transit times for goods by 2030.
To implement the initiative, the EC President will organize a regional high-level connectivity summit in conjunction with the Prime Minister of Bulgaria. "Today, I can announce a new international connectivity project. It will directly link the South Caucasus and Central Asia to the European market—what we call the Middle Corridor. We will have the opportunity to implement over 12 billion euros in public and private investments. Our goal is to diversify transport routes, triple trade flows, and significantly reduce transit times for goods by 2030. To make this a reality, we will organize a regional high-level connectivity summit together with the Prime Minister of Bulgaria," stated Ursula von der Leyen.
In her annual State of the Union address, von der Leyen emphasized that the state of the EU is at its strongest, yet also its most uncertain. She cited increased defense spending and the end of dependence on Russian fossil fuels as reasons for pride. Among the challenges, she highlighted the rise of extremism, the increased cost of living, and the breakdown of old friendships.
The EC President also addressed the issue of relations with Canada, expressing the goal for Canada to become the first associated member of the European Union. The speech was delivered in the presence of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Regarding China, von der Leyen called for dialogue with Beijing concerning Europe's dependence on critical materials.
Another major focus was the upcoming Child Protection Act, related to their presence on social media. The bill proposes a ban on social media use for children under 13 and a ban on creating profiles until the age of 15.
The Middle Corridor project and new EU transport routes could impact the logistical and economic connectivity of the region.
During the speech, the expansion of the EU was also mentioned. Von der Leyen expressed outrage over the funeral of Radko Mladic in Serbia, stating that the glorification of war criminals has no place in the Union, adding that joining the bloc means adhering to European values. The EC President reaffirmed her support for Ukraine and commented on the situation in the Middle East, as well as climate change and artificial intelligence.