The European Union plans to mobilize up to €623 million in investment and technical assistance for secure digital infrastructure linking Europe and Central Asia through the Black Sea region, the South Caucasus and Türkiye.
The initiative was discussed Nov. 9 at the first meeting of the High-Level Platform on Digital Connectivity in Chisinau, Vesti Baku reported. The European Commission expects to combine public funding with resources from international financial institutions and the private sector.
5G, Satellites and Data Centers
The package covers projects involving 5G networks, satellite communications, artificial intelligence and data centers. They are planned along the Middle Corridor to create more secure terrestrial and satellite communications links.
The EU is connecting the digital program to a broader agenda involving transport, energy and trade routes. Brussels aims to triple trade flows along the corridor by 2030 and significantly reduce cargo delivery times.
Azerbaijan’s Role
The initiative is strategically important for Azerbaijan as a key link in the Trans-Caspian route through the South Caucasus. Digital infrastructure is intended to support growing freight flows and make communications between the Caspian and Black Sea regions more resilient.
The European Commission has not yet disclosed a list of specific projects or how the funding would be divided among countries. The €623 million figure therefore applies to the regional initiative as a whole, not to funding for Azerbaijan alone.
The platform was launched in June 2026. Its next meeting, focused on energy connectivity, is planned for 2027, while a ministerial meeting on regional security and connectivity is scheduled for Nov. 16 in Brussels.