Marta Kos, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, highlighted Turkey's strategic importance during the opening of the "Connectivity Agenda Platform" held in Brussels.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, Marta Kos highly valued the participation of Turkey's Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, in the event.
Reports indicate that the EU official confirmed that contacts with Ankara will continue. She noted that meetings with Turkish officials are scheduled for the coming days, and a visit to Turkey is planned for the end of the month, alongside the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, and the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner.
Kos emphasized that while EU-Turkey relations are developing across various sectors, there is currently no progress in the membership process. Instead, the primary focus remains on the "connectivity" agenda, which holds significant potential.
The EU official explicitly stated that successful regional projects are impossible without Turkey's involvement.
Addressing the "Middle Corridor" initiative, she remarked, "It is difficult to imagine a strong Middle Corridor, as well as the development of digital, energy, and trade links, without Turkey's strong participation."
The Middle Corridor, officially known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), serves as a vital logistics link connecting China to Europe via Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, the South Caucasus, and Turkey. As a key transit hub, Turkey's infrastructure integration is essential for the corridor's efficiency and capacity to serve as a reliable alternative to northern trade routes.
According to the information, the EU official added that they have received proposals from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding connectivity projects, which are currently being evaluated alongside initiatives from other countries as the process continues.
