“Solidarity corridors” have brought Moldova and Ukraine closer to the EU in 2 years and secured them in the EU single market and transport zone - Adina Vălean.
This was stated by the European Commissioner for Transport, noting that 2 years ago the “Solidarity Corridors” changed logistics routes through Eastern Europe to support the functioning of the economies of Ukraine and Moldova and prevent a global food crisis. To date, they have generated approximately 50 billion euros in revenue. At the same time, they strengthen Ukraine’s economic ties with the EU, with imports currently amounting to about 107 billion euros. “The EU has invested in transport infrastructure in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine and Moldova, anchoring the latter two countries in the EU's single market and transport area. “Solidarity corridors are and will remain a safe option for trade between Ukraine and Moldova with the rest of the world,” said Adina Vălean. As further noted in the European Commission communication, exactly 2 years ago, the European Commission, in cooperation with Moldova and Ukraine, created “Corridors of Solidarity” to help improve EU-Ukraine-Moldova transport routes in response to Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Originally created to circumvent the Russian Black Sea blockade of Ukrainian grain exports, the Corridors of Solidarity today cover trade in all sectors. They allow Moldova and Ukraine to export all types of goods to world markets, and also ensure the delivery of essential imported goods to Ukraine. In the long term, they will also play a key role in Ukraine's recovery and further integration into the EU single market. As noted, to date, the “Corridors of Solidarity” have helped Ukraine export more than 136 million tons of goods, such as grain, ore and steel, and import more than 52 million tons of essential goods, including fuel, vehicles, fertilizers, as well as military and humanitarian aid. “Solidarity Corridors” pass through the Danube region, Poland, the Baltic countries and the Adriatic region via rail, road and inland waterways. These corridors complement the Ukrainian Black Sea corridor, established in the fall of 2023. However, the Danube and Polish-Baltic corridors remain key for all imports, while the Adriatic corridor is especially important for Ukrainian non-agricultural exports. To date, the European Commission and international financial institutions have mobilized more than 2 billion euros. Over the course of 2 years, the European Commission also played a key role in coordinating the actions of authorities and the transport community in the EU, Ukraine and Moldova, as well as identifying ways to remove administrative and infrastructural bottlenecks and improve efficiency. Key priorities include traffic management, border procedures and investment in infrastructure and logistics equipment. Large-scale projects include, for example, the EU-funded project to improve navigation along the Danube and Sulina Canal towards the Black Sea (Primus). The project, co-funded by the EU, was implemented by Romania and received technical assistance from France to train river pilots and improve information exchange with Ukrainian ports. This cooperation has helped improve shipping safety and capacity on the Danube. The EU Connecting Europe Fund (CEF) has played an important role in financing critical border needs and has taken the first steps to integrate the transport systems of Ukraine and Moldova into the EU TEN-T network. Significant progress has also been made in the transition to European standard gauges, which has contributed to the creation of an compatible EU railway system. The European Commission stated that it will continue its work within the framework of the Solidarity Corridors in the future in cooperation with all interested partners. // 22.05.2024 — InfoMarket
