Intervention – A written question to the European Commission was submitted today by PASOK MEP and member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, Nikolas Farantouris, regarding the prospects for the India-Middle East-Europe (IMEC) trade corridor.
The maritime and rail connectivity project, in which Greece would also participate via Piraeus, takes on a new dimension following the announcement of cooperation between Turkey and Saudi Arabia for an alternative, competitive rail corridor.
As noted in the relevant announcement, Nikolas Farantouris calls on both the European Commission to take a position and the Greek government to “take action so that Greece, following EastMed and GSI, does not miss the IMEC train as well.”
What is IMEC
The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is a proposed multilateral initiative for maritime and rail connectivity, aimed at economic development and trade cooperation. It is planned to extend from India to Europe via the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Greece, ending at the port of Piraeus.
IMEC is a project of strategic importance, supported by the European Union, the United States, India, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, with the aim of strengthening trade, energy, and transport networks between Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific.
However, as the MEP points out, recent official statements by government officials from Turkey and Saudi Arabia confirm that the two countries are promoting the development of a competitive rail link, creating a new dynamic regarding the strategic architecture of connectivity corridors in the wider region.
Given that IMEC has been presented as a project of high geo-economic and geopolitical importance for European competitiveness, energy security, and the diversification of trade routes, Nikolas Farantouris asks the European Commission to clarify whether it still considers the corridor strategically and economically viable in light of the Ankara - Riyadh, and how it assesses the participation of candidate countries, such as Turkey, in projects that compete with initiatives supported by the European Union and its strategic partners.
Speaking from Brussels, the MEP noted:
“Our country’s geographical and geopolitical position allows Greece to play a significant role in Europe’s trade and energy networks with the rest of the world. However, in recent years we have seen critical projects, such as EastMed or the electricity interconnection with Cyprus, being scrapped or put on the back burner. Will Greece miss the boat on IMEC as well?”