The Middle Corridor: EU Connectivity through Infrastructure Digitalisation and a Single Window Environment

Amid global supply chain disruptions and geo-political uncertainty, the Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), is rapidly redefining how Europe connects with the Asian continent via Central Asia and the Greater Caspian region - offering a faster, more reliable alternative to traditional trade routes. Increasingly emboldened by investment and regional cooperation, this multimodal corridor promises to reduce transit times, bypass existing chokepoints, and drive digital innovation in customs and logistics.

This policy brief examines the operational dynamics, strategic benefits, and challenges to enhance the role of the Middle Corridor as a core pillar of EU-Greater Caspian Region connectivity. It argues that the EU should prioritise the Middle Corridor as a cornerstone of its Global Gateway Initiative, in particular through three strategic initiatives: comprehensive infrastructure digitalisation; regulatory harmonisation via a Single Window environment; and infrastructure modernisation.

Authors: Minh Pham, Anastassia Melnikov, and Sophie Young – University of East Anglia

Editor: Reuben Gilhooley, EIAS Junior Researcher

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