Media: EU ready to step up support for South Caucasus connectivity projects

The European Union has reaffirmed its readiness to step up cooperation with Armenia and Azerbaijan on new transport and infrastructure projects aimed at boosting regional integration, EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Anitta Hipper told Report.

“Following the summit in Washington, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, discussed with the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan the EU’s offer of support and expertise for the practical implementation of agreed-upon arrangements, including matters related to transport connectivity,” Hipper said in the interview with local media, Caliber.Az reports. 

The route — officially named the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) and formerly referred to as the Zangazur Corridor — is expected to connect mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenian territory. It is being presented as complementary to the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor.

She added that Brussels would continue discussions with both Baku and Yerevan “to identify new avenues of cooperation and support for the normalisation process between the two countries.”

The EU has long championed regional infrastructure initiatives, particularly the Middle Corridor, which links Europe with the South Caucasus and Central Asia. 

“The European Union reaffirms its commitment to the development of infrastructure and transport projects in the South Caucasus in the context of the latest agreements between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” Hipper said.

According to Hipper, security and connectivity are central to the EU’s newly unveiled Black Sea Strategy, presented in late May 2025. 

“Recently, the EU has repeatedly confirmed its readiness to unlock the immense potential of cross-border cooperation in the South Caucasus and beyond. Improving security and regional connectivity remains a top priority of the EU’s strategic approach to the Black Sea region,” she said.

She stressed that the EU, working with regional partners, aims to advance the Connectivity Agenda, which expands Trans-European networks and promotes cross-border interaction. 

“The EU is already participating in regional projects through the Global Gateway initiative and is investing via the Eastern Partnership Investment Platform. We are ready to consider and mobilize further support for both large-scale infrastructure projects and ‘soft connectivity’ measures that promote interaction, cooperation, and integration between countries and regions,” Hipper said.