Ambassador's meeting at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE)

The Ambassador of Turkmenistan, Sapar Palvanov met with Ms. Maja Bakran Marcich, Deputy Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport.

The discussion focused on strengthening transport connectivity, advancing the Trans-Caspian route, and identifying practical outcomes in the context of a possible visit of the President of Turkmenistan to Brussels.

The Ambassador emphasized that transport connectivity and the development of international corridors are among Turkmenistan’s key priorities in its engagement with the European Union. He highlighted ongoing efforts to modernize national infrastructure, including major highway projects and the completion of the Ashgabat-Turkmenabat motorway, as well as the strategic role of the Turkmenbashi International Seaport as a vital hub on the Caspian route. Progress in customs cooperation with regional partners and efforts to develop coordinated regional approaches were also noted.

The European side underlined the growing momentum of EU-Central Asia cooperation in transport, which is increasingly based on a regional approach. Particular attention was given to the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, promoted under the Global Gateway initiative, with the Turkmenbashi port recognized as an important component of the Middle Corridor.

In practical terms, the sides discussed strengthening a structured working platform between the relevant authorities of Turkmenistan and the EU institutions. The Turkmen diplomat expressed readiness to explore the establishment of an institutional framework for cooperation in transport, potentially in the form of a memorandum of understanding, a roadmap, or another flexible instrument reflecting concrete areas of collaboration. The European side noted that developing a formal framework requires steady progress in practical cooperation and internal coordination within EU structures.

Special attention was given to “soft measures,” including digitalization, simplification of procedures, operational interoperability, and organizational solutions necessary to ensure the effective functioning of the corridor. Cooperation with international financial institutions and development banks was also discussed, including interest in engagement with the European Investment Bank in the transport sector.

Mobility and sustainable tourism were also part of the discussion. The European official outlined ongoing work on a future EU strategy for sustainable tourism and emphasized the importance of transport accessibility for unlocking regional tourism potential. The Ambassador noted the growing interest in tourism in Turkmenistan, including progress toward the introduction of an electronic visa system and broader digital improvements in the visa sphere.

The meeting confirmed a shared understanding of the strategic importance of transport connectivity and the Trans-Caspian direction. Both sides expressed readiness to further develop practical, step-by-step cooperation based on concrete projects, regional frameworks, and sustainable mechanisms of interaction.