BELGRADE – The Transport Community’s Regional Steering Committee brought together representatives of the Transport Community, European Commission, regional partners from the Western Balkans, and observing participants from Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine for its 26th meeting on 16 December 2024. The meeting discussed and endorsed key plans and reports aimed at enhancing transport infrastructure and connectivity across the region.
Among the agenda’s key points, the most notable ones were related to the endorsement of the yearly reports on the progress of the TEN-T network extension in the Western Balkans, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, and a five-year rolling work plan for the continued development of the Indicative TEN-T extension, ensuring a roadmap for long-term infrastructure improvements.
These reports will be endorsed on a political level by the ministers from the region during the upcoming Ministerial Council of the Transport Community, scheduled to take place in Belgrade on 31 January 2025.
Ms Jasmina Radonjić, Committee Chairperson and Head of Section at the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure of Serbia stressed that the Transport Community has ambitious plans ahead, particularly focused on fostering connectivity, sustainable transport, and integration with EU standards in the Western Balkans and associated regions. “We are set to implement activities to meet the criteria for obtaining funds from the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans, which also emphasises regional connectivity through systematic progress at the national level. For the Western Balkans aspiring to join the European Union, joint planning in transport is essential for achieving European standards. The focus of the future work of the Regional Steering Committee should be on reporting concrete actions in providing assistance, and simultaneously addressing the main weaknesses of all Western Balkans partners,” she underlined.
Committee Co-Chair and Director for Policy Coordination in the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission, Ms Mona Bjorklund, pointed out that looking back at the key achievements of 2024 – including the adoption of the Growth Plan and the next-generation TCT Action Plans – she expressed confidence that, by this time next year, these milestones will be regarded as the foundation for rapid progress in acquis alignment and transport integration.
Mr Matej Zakonjšek, Director of the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community stressed that in the coming years, the success of collective efforts will be measured not solely by the passage of reforms but by their effective implementation and the real-world benefits they deliver together with the enhanced infrastructure projects. “The success is within our reach, but it will only be realised if we commit to speeding up our efforts and intensifying our focus on implementation of both policies and projects,” he underlined.
The meeting also discussed and endorsed the 2024 report on EU acquis transposition for the Observing Participants.
Following the presentation of the Western Balkans Smart and Sustainable Strategy’s progress and updates on the transport of dangerous goods reforms, the meeting endorsed the two reports, reflecting the region’s commitment to green and safe transport solutions.
To strengthen passenger rights across the region, the Regional Steering Committee explored the findings from a recent study to enhance the regulatory framework for passenger rights in the Western Balkans.
Furthermore, an overview of initiatives to empower non-governmental organisations and civil society to contribute more actively to transport projects and policies was also discussed.
Administrative matters were also among the meeting’s agenda points, including the adoption of the 2025 budget and endorsement of the 2025 Annual Work Programme, aligning resources with priorities to deliver on regional and EU transport objectives.
