Greece–Bulgaria–Romania cooperation on the Aegean–Black Sea Vertical Corridor

Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania have signed an agreement in Brussels to advance the Aegean–Black Sea Vertical Corridor, a strategic rail and road axis that will link the three countries through Dedeağaç (Alexandroupolis).

The agreement was signed by the EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas; Greece’s Alternate Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Konstantinos Kyranakis; Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Grozdan Karadzov; and Romania’s Deputy Minister of Transport, Ionut Cristian Sevoiu. 

The signing marks a significant step in strengthening cross-border cooperation and launching a project of major geopolitical and economic importance for the region.

“The Memorandum aims to transform geographical positioning into a true strategic advantage while aligning planning, timetables, and financing,” stated EU Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas, highlighting the crucial role of the Aegean–Black Sea Vertical Corridor within the European transport network.

Tzitzikostas emphasized that the Thessaloniki–Alexandroupolis–Bucharest axis will play a central role in the initiative, becoming “one of the most important strategic arteries in Europe,” essential not only for connectivity but also for the EU’s and NATO’s military mobility.

He added that, with the active involvement of the European Commission, CINEA, and the European Investment Bank, a comprehensive joint plan detailing projects, routes, and financing is expected to be finalized by the end of 2026. This new partnership, he stressed, lays the foundation for the most strategic transport corridor in Southeastern Europe — “a first line of defence for the security, economy, and resilience of the European Union.”