The new European transport corridor will have a great impact on the convergence of the countries of the region and the development of the economies of the Western Balkans, said the Minister of Transport and Maritime Affairs, Filip Radulović.
As announced by the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs, Radulović, participating in the panel dedicated to the expansion of the Trans-European Network (TEN-T) to the countries of the region, which is being held in Brussels, pointed out that this connection will bring European standards to our transport network, safer roads and railways , which will be more resistant to floods and earthquakes.
He said that he is convinced that the Western Balkan Corridor will speed up the transport of goods from the Mediterranean and Asia to Central Europe, reducing travel time and the distance between the initial and final destination, which will contribute to savings for both operators and end users.
"The Western Balkans have always been on the map of Europe, we are Europe and we will remain in Europe. Therefore, that corridor will become an inevitable transport hub in the southern part of the continent," said Radulović.
He spoke before the ministers of the European Union (EU), as the only participant from candidate countries, about the multiple importance of joining the region to the European transport corridor.
Radulović reminded that until the recent revision, the Western Balkans did not have its transport corridor on the TEN-T map.
He stated that he is convinced that this indicates that the region is now on the right path.
The newly established Western Balkan and Eastern Mediterranean corridor, as he explained, internally connects the most important corridors in Southeastern Europe, as well as countries in the EU environment.
"The new transport corridor will bring TEN-T standards on roads, railways, ports and airport infrastructure. This means that the region will be focused on the transposition of EU acquis, as a prerequisite for a modern transport network. That network will connect regional partners and EU members" , pointed out Radulović.
According to him, such a network will connect not only people, but also businesses.
"The region of the Western Balkans is relatively small, and its chances are fair, only if it behaves as a unit. This is the only way for the Balkans to be competitive with the rest of Europe," said Radulović.
He presented to the EU ministers, who pressed the panel, that the capacities of the free customs zone in the port of Bar are insufficiently used and that any increase in the attractiveness of that port, which results in an increase in the volume of transport in it, also means an increase in transport along railways and highways on the mentioned corridor. which is one of the key issues for Montenegro.
"I expect that we will also be encouraged to invest more in cleaner transport fleets, such as e-buses and e-cars," said Radulović.
As he stated, Podgorica started investing in the e-taxi service, as the first step towards the capital of sustainable urban mobility.
"An interoperable e-billing system in the region is also one of the advantages we can expect," said Radulović.
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