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European Union (EU) Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos emphasized the importance of cooperation with Türkiye on regional transport and connectivity projects, describing the country as essential for European access to China and Central Asia.
"Türkiye is a critical partner on the road to China," Kos said on Sunday, Feb. 15, at the Munich Security Conference during a panel titled "Open Corridor Policy? Deepening Trans-Caspian Cooperation" that included Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
Kos said regional transport and connectivity projects hold strategic importance not only for Azerbaijan but also for Europe, strengthening the continent's access to China and Central Asia.
The commissioner highlighted that the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan has opened up opportunities for cooperation that were previously impossible, adding that the EU strongly supports this process.
"For example, we are creating a project list and project pipeline with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Türkiye," Kos said.
She emphasized the importance of infrastructure investments for creating new transport corridors, noting the Trans-Caspian transport corridor could triple traffic volume by 2030, cut transit times in half, and deliver significant annual cost savings.
Kos stressed that transport connections must be addressed at a regional scale, saying completion of limited sections alone would not be sufficient.
Kos noted that launching a feasibility study for the Azerbaijan-Nakhchivan railway line is also on the agenda and highlighted the importance of private investors in large infrastructure projects.
She acknowledged EU decision-making processes can be difficult at times but said regional connectivity projects could create significant transformation.
"Addressing the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) together with Nakhchivan could be a real game changer in this region," Kos said.
Kos underlined that regional cooperation operates on multiple layers.
"We have different relationship metrics. We have bilateral relations. It's not just Armenia-Azerbaijan, there's also Türkiye. Armenia, Türkiye-Azerbaijan. So there are three countries. With the EU, we are four," Kos said.
"Therefore, this is not possible without good cooperation," she noted.
Addressing the possibility of new routes opening to Iran, Kos added: "Türkiye is ready to establish another railway connection."
Türkiye represented at the 62nd Munich Security Conference by Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek, National Intelligence Organization (MIT) President Ibrahim Kalin, Turkish Parliament National Defense Commission Chairman Hulusi Akar and Presidential Foreign Policy and Security Chief Advisor Akif Cagatay Kilic.
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