What is the TRACECA?
TRACECA, whose full name is the "Europe - Caucasus - Asia Transport Corridor", is located on the route on the historical Silk Road, which is largely described as the Middle Corridor today. It is the shortest route connecting Europe to Asia, passing through the countries of the South Caucasus.
When did the TRACECA program start?
In May 1993, at a conference in Brussels, the TRACECA Programme, with the participation of the trade and transport ministries of 8 TRACECA countries (5 Central Asian Republics and 3 Caucasus Republics), provided technical assistance from the EU on the east-west axis by passing from Europe to the Black Sea and the Caucasus and Caspian Sea. It has been decided to finance the development of a transport corridor extending to Central Asia, including the sea.
Initially, TRACECA aimed to develop an East-West transport corridor from Europe by connecting the South Caucasus via the Black Sea route via the Trans-European Networks (TEN-T) from EU territory and reaching Central Asia via the Caspian Sea Crossing. In order to meet the Middle Corridor transitions, whose volume has increased by improving the "Corridor" area of influence and effectiveness as a result of the changing conditions since that day, it offers various solutions such as digitalization in transport documents, as well as the harmonization of transitions, and carries out pilot projects.
What are the aims of TRACECA?
The EU has proposed this program in addition to other routes. The project is in line with the global EU strategy and includes the following objectives:
- To support the political and economic independence of countries by strengthening their capacity to open up to the European and World markets with alternative transportation routes,
- To promote future regional cooperation between member states,
- Using TRACECA as a catalyst to gain support from International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and private investors,
- Connecting the TRACECA route with the Trans-European Network (TENs).
Heads of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Romania, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Ukraine and Uzbekistan Europe-Caucasus-Asia for the development of economic cooperation, trade and transport links to Europe, Black Sea, Caucasus, Caspian Sea and Asia In its corridor, they signed the Multilateral Basic Agreement (Baku, September 8, 1998) for the development of international transport. The agreement aims to develop interregional cooperation between the parties and to strengthen the legal environment, as well as to guarantee the integration phase in the implementation of the TRACECA programme.
The objectives of the Basic Agreement and its Technical Annexes are as follows:
- To assist in the development of economic relations, trade and transport links to Europe, the Black Sea region, the Caucasus, the Caspian Sea region and Asia,
- Ensuring entry to the international road, rail and maritime market,
- To guarantee traffic safety, cargo importance and environmental protection,
- Harmonizing transport policies and legal structure in the field of transport,
- Creating equal competition among transport operations
Which languages are used in TRACECA?
English and Russian are the official languages of the TRACECA Intergovernmental Commission, sectoral working groups and the Permanent Secretariat.
What type of organization is TRACECA?
TRACECA represents the transportation network starting from China to Central Europe in a horizontal line. In this direction, TRACECA organization is described as a "regional" organization because it is organized in a certain geography in line with its aims and only represents the countries of which it is a member.
What modes of transport does TRACECA use?
The freight transport activities within the TRACECA route are a transport corridor that performs "Multimodal Transport" as it includes one or more of the "Motorway-Railroad-Maritime-Civil Aviation" modes.