site.btaMariya Gabriel Joins Foreign Ministerial of Corridor 8 Countries in Italy

The building of Pan-European Corridor 8 will boost trade and business, good neighbourly relations, economic growth and security, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel said on Thursday, as quoted by her ministry. Gabriel took part in a foreign ministerial of the four countries along Corridor 8, held in Brindisi. The meeting also involved Foreign Ministers Antonio Tajani of Italy, Olta Xhacka of Albania and Bujar Osmani of North Macedonia.

Gabriel described transport connectivity as essential for regional cooperation, economic development and the flow of foreign investment. She called for a concerted effort to build the infrastructure of Corridor 8. "It is a project of strategic importance for Bulgaria, Italy, the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania as it contributes to the cohesion between the Western Balkans and the European Union and promotes country-to-country and people-to-people relations in the region," she said.

Bulgaria's chief diplomat went on to note that Corridor 8 will provide new opportunities for young people and will be conducive to the creation of innovation hubs, turning the region into a place for developing breakthrough technologies and new-generation entrepreneurship.

According to the press release of the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry, Corridor 8 is an important transport system of sea and river harbours, airports, roads and railways. It links the Bulgarian Black Sea ports of Varna and Burgas to the Italian Adriatic ports of Bari and Brindisi via North Macedonia and Albania. Some 52% of the road infrastructure is in Bulgarian territory. The corridor is intended to improve European and regional infrastructure connectivity.

The ministers stressed the importance of the initiative for the integration of the Western Balkans into the EU. They noted the need for joint, coordinated efforts to address the challenges of migration.

Gabriel thanked Italian Foreign Minister Tajani for the strong support for Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen border-free area without further delay.

One of the results of the Brindisi discussion was a decision to hold several types of meetings of the four countries: an annual political meeting, an annual business forum, a meeting of major cities along Corridor 8, and regular four-party discussions within NATO summits.