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European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Speech by Commissioner Kos at the International Conference on Corridor VIII in Sofia Sofia, 8 October 2026 How can we make sure European trade routes are more secure, in a world where they are increasingly under pressure? How can we strengthen our independence? Why are Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania and all partners from the region so important for the goal ou...
European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Speech by Commissioner Kos at the International Conference on Corridor VIII in Sofia Sofia, 8 October 2026 How can we make sure European trade routes are more secure, in a world where they are increasingly under pressure? How can we strengthen our independence? Why are Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania and all partners from the region so important for the goal outlined by President von der Leyen to diversify routes? Dear Minister Velislava Petrova, dear Ministers, Bulgaria is one of Europe's connectivity gateways. This was clear from the State of the Union speech of President von der Leyen last month. I will see that for myself later today. On the way to Edirne in Türkiye, I will stop at Kapitan Andreevo, the busiest land border crossing on the European continent. There, at the Bulgarian-Turkish border, is the starting point for one of Europe's great connectivity projects: upgrading the trade, transport and energy links that connect Europe through Türkiye and the South Caucasus with Central Asia, as well as with the Middle East. Europe has learnt the hard way that excessive dependencies make us vulnerable. We have seen that energy blackmail, critical raw material shortages, or overreliance on a small number of key trading routes can all limit our freedom to act. We need to diversify our options. This is exactly what we are doing. This is why we are working to crowd in up to €12 billion in public and private investment to improve roads, railways and ports, build capacity and reduce delays at borders. Bulgaria is where this Middle Corridor meets the European Union. This makes Bulgaria such an ideal location for the Connectivity Summit it will host together with the European Commission in spring 2027. Bulgaria is the gateway. But Bulgaria is also a connector. Between North and South, as your joint action plan with Greece and Romania last week demonstrated. And between East and West. This is why we are here today. Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Albania you have a strategic location in building critical pan-European infrastructures that allows us to move goods quickly across Europe. From the Black Sea to the Adriatic, on onwards to Italy. This is the broader context of this meeting today. This is the vision we want to realise. Because those new connections are a win-win for everyone along the route. They will serve your economies, and your communities on each side of the borders. And one day, I hope very soon, they will become uninterrupted highways in a united Europe without borders. In North Macedonia and Albania alone, the EU is supporting Corridor VIII with EUR 319 million in funding. The Kumanovo–Beljakovce trainline is already fully operational. The works tender for the railway section from Kriva Palanka to the Bulgarian border has been launched. The agreement between Bulgaria and North Macedonia on the cross-border railway tunnel was another important step. The tunnel will address one of the most important bottlenecks along the route. I am glad you are all here today to discuss how we can best work together and speed up our work in linking the Black Sea to the Adriatic. Because this is about bringing your counties closer together, about helping local communities save travel time. And it is about completing an essential part of a much bigger network of transport and energy links that reduce costs, diversify our trade routes and strengthen Europe's independence. From Central Asia to the centre of Europe. From the Black Sea to the Adriatic. With Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Albania right at the heart of it. Let's make it reality. SPEECH/26/2107 <@rel_link@>
Speech Brief