SWOT-Analysis - FLAVIA

1 Executive Summary
Freight and Logistics Advancement in Central/South-
East Europe - Validation of trade and transport processes,
Implementation of improvement actions, Application
of coordinated structures
The TRACECA corridor becomes more and more a strategic factor for the EU. In the last decade
over 60 technical assistance and 14 investments projects were financed. The investment
volume amounts to 170 mln €. Focussed issues are secure and safe transport, harmonizing
legal regulations, facilitating trade and institutional support. The main aim for both – the EU and
TRACECA – is to establish stable and continuous trade and transport relations. Also the transport
operators and logistics providers invest more and more within the TRACECA region. The
ports of Constanta, Odessa and Poti are already in the property of foreign transport companies.
The present report delivers an assessment of the current trade and transport situation within the
TRACECA region and its relations and links to the EU. Benefiting and hindering factors are assembled
with the help of a SWOT-analysis. With the help of an own survey, results from other
FLAVIA reports as well as experiences from other projects for all four fields concrete statements
were prepared.
The analysis shows that on paper the TRACECA region has a powerful position. The corridor is
rich of natural deposits like oil, gas and strategic minerals (e.g. gold, seldom minerals and uranium).
Furthermore, situated at the linkage point between Europe and Asia it possesses a growing
relevance for international transport routes following the former Great Silk Road. The reactivation
and expansion of the land bridge route could mean a serious alternative for the maritime
route.
Several pipeline projects are realised at the moment. They should supply Europe with gas for its
energy production and should decrease the dependencies from Russian supplies. This might
lead to conflicts in future.
Despite of the existing resources and the large development potential the TRACECA region
struggles with various problems which hamper the trade and transport relations. An unstable
political environment accompanied with abuse of authority, corruption and organised crime disadvantage
a large part of the region. All these factors scare potential investors.
The infrastructure does not reach a Western standard. Especially the Eastern part of the
TRACECA corridor needs new investments into the transport network. In addition the organisation
of the transports has to be optimised. Long-lasting border procedure, unsafe transport conditions
and missing services have to be overcome.
A promising approach is a close cooperation between the EU and the TRACECA. A linkage of
both regions with the help of common working groups or platforms could be one opportunity.
The coordination of joint infrastructure projects for instance would avoid solo runs. The experiences
from the TEN-T (Trans-European Transport Network) shaping process might be used for
the creation of a “TCAN-T” (Trans-Central Asia Transport Network). Such a network could be
the basis for further agreed expansions of the transport routes.
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