简体中文(中国) 
On November 9, 2026, the European Commission mobilized up to €623 million in blended public-private investment and technical assistance to build secure, trusted digital links connecting the European Union with Central Asia via Moldova, the Black Sea region, Türkiye, and the South Caucasus. Unveiled at the inaugural High-Level Connectivity Platform Meeting on Digital in Chișinău, Moldova, the initiative anchors the digital pillar of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy along the Trans-Caspian “Middle Corridor”.
Up to €623M
Backed by 10 Statements of Intent signed by the European Commission, partner governments, EU financial institutions, and private operators.
>€500M Gateway
EBRD-backed EU–Türkiye–South Caucasus Digital Gateway funding trusted 5G networks and cross-border terrestrial fiber.
4 Tech Layers
Integrates terrestrial 5G/fiber backbones, space-based satellite links (SkyRoad), AI data centers, and municipal Wi-Fi access.
Co-hosted by the European Commission and Moldova’s Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalisation, the Chișinău summit operationalizes the Cross-regional Connectivity Agenda launched in October 2025. By pairing blended European financing with strict vendor-security standards, Brussels aims to diversify Eurasian data routes away from legacy northern transit chokepoints through Russia while supporting broader EU targets to triple trade volumes and cut freight transit times along the Middle Corridor by 2030.
1. Strategic Architecture: The “Integrated EU Secure Connectivity Offer”
At the core of the €623 million package is the Integrated EU Secure Connectivity Offer, which applies the EU Tech Business Offer and the EU International Digital Strategy directly to the Black Sea, South Caucasus, and Central Asian theaters:
- Trusted Vendor & 5G Security Standards: Financing and technical assistance are conditioned on adherence to the EU Toolbox for 5G Security, restricting high-risk vendors from core telecommunications networks, cross-border gateways, and cloud/data center infrastructure.
- Digital Sovereignty & Shared Governance: Speaking at the launch in Chișinău, Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela emphasized that “digital sovereignty and opportunity go hand in hand,” while Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos noted that Europe and its partners must shape their shared digital future together rather than leaving strategic infrastructure to external actors.
- Multi-Modal Corridor Resilience: Rather than relying on a single transmission medium, the programme combines terrestrial fiber, 5G mobile infrastructure, AI-ready data centers, and multi-orbit satellite backhaul to ensure uninterrupted connectivity across mountainous and landlocked terrain.
2. Flagship Projects Unveiled Under the €623 Million Package
Through the 10 Statements of Intent exchanged in Moldova, the European Commission and participating partners outlined four concrete operational initiatives:
1. EU–Türkiye–South Caucasus Digital Gateway (>€500M)
The largest financial pillar of the package, developed with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to mobilize over €500 million for trusted 5G networks in Türkiye and secure cross-border fiber connections linking the EU, Türkiye, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia.
2. SkyRoad Satellite Connectivity Initiative
A dedicated space-based connectivity programme supporting essential public services, railway signaling, power grids, and border processing. Partners include European satellite operator SES and French ground-station provider Skynopy, which is expanding operations across Armenia, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Ukraine.
3. WiFi4Moldova (€1M Municipal Access Rollout)
Launched by Commissioner Marta Kos alongside the Moldovan government, this €1 million EU grant-funded initiative deploys free public Wi-Fi hotspots across 30 communities in Moldova, building on Moldova’s entry into the EU Roam Like at Home area in January 2026.
4. Digital Innovation & eCMR Corridor Digitalization
France’s technical cooperation agency Expertise France signed on to strengthen regional digital innovation ecosystems and AI/data center standards, complemented by an EU-backed eCMR electronic freight consignment note pilot to digitize customs along the Middle Corridor.
| Initiative / Project | Funding Scale | Key Partners | Technical & Geographic Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU–Türkiye–South Caucasus Digital Gateway | >€500 million (mobilization target) | European Commission, EBRD, partner governments | Trusted 5G infrastructure in Türkiye and secure terrestrial cross-border links to the South Caucasus and Central Asia. |
| SkyRoad | Part of €623M blended envelope | European Commission, SES, Skynopy | High-capacity satellite communications and ground stations across Armenia, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Ukraine. |
| WiFi4Moldova | €1 million (EU grant) | European Commission, Government of Moldova | Free municipal public Wi-Fi deployment across 30 local communities in Moldova. |
| Innovation & Trade Digitalization | Technical assistance & co-financing | Expertise France, regional ministries | Startup/innovation ecosystem support, data center/AI alignment, and eCMR digital freight pilots. |
3. Are Regional Submarine Cables Funded Under This €623M Programme?
No—none of the three major submarine cable systems along the Middle Corridor are directly funded out of the November 2026 €623 million digital connectivity package. Instead, the Black Sea Submarine Cable (BSSC), the Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Cable (CaspiLink), and the Kardesa Submarine Cable System are financed through separate energy, multilateral, or private telecom operator tracks:
| Subsea Cable System | Route & Architecture | Primary Funders / Sponsors | In €623M Package? | Status (Nov 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Sea Submarine Cable (BSSC) | Georgia – Romania (1,195 km HVDC power + parallel fiber-optic cable) | Green Energy Corridor JV (AZ, GE, RO, HU TSOs); World Bank ($35M loan); EU TEN-E / CEF energy track | No Energy & multilateral track |
Seabed survey & engineering prep; holds EU PMI status |
| Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Cable (CaspiLink) | Azerbaijan – Kazakhstan (Caspian Sea crossing) | 100% Operator-Funded via CaspiLink B.V. (50/50 JV of Kazakhtelecom & AzerTelecom / NEQSOL) | No Self-financed by operators |
Completed & Activated (October 2026) |
| Kardesa Submarine Cable System | Bulgaria – Türkiye – Georgia – Ukraine (Black Sea) | Operator-Funded (>€100M by Vodafone Group & Vodafone Ukraine / NEQSOL Holding; Xtera supplier) | No Privately funded |
Pre-construction; marine build starts 2027 in Bulgaria |
While the wet-plant submarine cables across the Caspian and Black Seas are funded independently by telecom operators (such as Vodafone and NEQSOL Holding) or energy transmission consortia, the European Commission’s €623 million mobilization provides the essential terrestrial backhaul, trusted 5G networks, SkyRoad satellite redundancy, and data-center landing ecosystems on either side of those subsea links—creating an end-to-end, non-Russian digital bridge from Central Asia into the European Union.
4. Governance & Diplomatic Roadmap
| Milestone / Instrument | Date | Strategic Function & Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-Regional Security & Connectivity Ministerial | October 2025 | Presented the Cross-regional Connectivity Agenda linking the EU, Black Sea, South Caucasus, and Central Asia. |
| Connectivity Agenda Platform Launch | June 2026 | Established the institutional coordination mechanism and concluded initial IFI agreements mobilizing up to €2 billion across transport, energy, and digital sectors. |
| 1st High-Level Platform on Digital Connectivity | November 9, 2026 | Held in Chișinău; signed 10 Statements of Intent mobilizing up to €623 million (including the >€500M Digital Gateway and SkyRoad) and launched WiFi4Moldova. |
| 2nd Connectivity & Security Ministerial | November 16, 2026 | Convening in Brussels to consolidate political commitments and cross-regional security governance. |
| High-Level Platform on Energy Connectivity | 2027 | Scheduled follow-up platform meeting focused on power interconnectors and energy corridor integration. |
By combining €623 million in targeted terrestrial, satellite, and data-center financing with independently funded Caspian and Black Sea submarine cables, the European Union is systematically constructing a multi-layered, security-vetted Eurasian digital backbone that bypasses Russian transit chokepoints and anchors Central Asian connectivity to European standards.
