Ashgabat: The European Union (EU) has expressed its commitment to supporting Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) during the Third UN Conference on LLDCs hosted in Turkmenistan. Speaking on behalf of the EU and its Member States, the representative emphasized the importance of leveraging technology, innovation, and scientific advancements to overcome the structural constraints faced by LLDCs.
According to European Union, the Awaza Programme of Action highlights the necessity of integrated strategies to address challenges such as limited connectivity, high trade costs, and vulnerability to external shocks. The Programme calls for enhanced international cooperation and multi-stakeholder partnerships to mobilize financial and technical resources. By aligning the Awaza Programme's priorities with investments in infrastructure, human capital, and knowledge systems, LLDCs can unlock new development pathways and ensure no country is left behind.
Finance is a central element of this transformative agenda, with a call for a shift in the international financial architecture to provide LLDCs with increased access to financial resources. Recently agreed upon in Sevilla, the EU aims to establish a coherent, inclusive, and effective financing system tailored to the needs of LLDCs. The Pact for Prosperity, People and the Planet (4P) serves as a platform for dialogue and the development of innovative financial tools.
The EU is actively investing in projects that enhance connectivity and infrastructure in LLDCs through initiatives like Global Gateway. These projects include the Lobito Corridor project, which extends railway tracks from the Copperbelt provinces of the DRC and Zambia to Angola, and the NDjamena-Douala corridor, improving connectivity between the Sahel and the Gulf of Guinea. Additionally, the Great Green Wall Initiative aims to engage in sustainable agriculture, land restoration, and climate-resilient infrastructure, with more than EUR 700 million allocated annually to re-green the Sahel.
In Central Asia, two flagship Team Europe Initiatives on Digital Connectivity and Water Energy and Climate Change aim to increase regional integration. The EU is set to commence the development of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, providing an efficient route between Europe and Central Asia. In the Caucasus, efforts include building a customs terminal and extending roads to facilitate trade, while in Nepal, the focus is on extending the Chilime-Trishuli electricity line to enhance rural electrification.
Furthermore, the EU has revitalized its dialogue with Latin America and Caribbean partners, convening the third EU-CELAC Summit in 2023 to consolidate an investment agenda with programs on climate, energy, water, and sanitation in Paraguay and Bolivia.
The EU's commitment to LLDCs is demonstrated by its provision of EUR 88.7 billion in Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 2024, with EUR 2.7 billion allocated specifically to LLDCs in 2023. The EU recognizes the vital role of LLDCs in global prosperity and sustainable development and is committed to working with them on the priorities of the Awaza Programme of Action.
