Two years of Solidarity Lanes have brought the EU, Ukraine and Moldova closer together

In May 2022, the European Commission, in partnership with Ukraine and Moldova, launched the Solidarity Lanes to enhance transport routes among the EU, Ukraine, and Moldova. This initiative was initially designed to bypass Russia's blockade of Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea. Over time, it has expanded to support trade in all sectors, allowing Ukraine and Moldova to export various goods to international markets and ensuring critical imports reach Ukraine. In the future, these lanes will play a vital role in Ukraine’s reconstruction and its further integration into the EU single market.

Since the establishment of the Solidarity Lanes, they have facilitated the export of over 136 million tonnes of goods, including grain, ores, and steel, and the import of more than 52 million tonnes of essential items such as fuel, vehicles, fertilizers, and both military and humanitarian aid. The lanes utilize rail, road, and inland waterways, passing through regions such as the Danube, Poland, the Baltics, and the Adriatic. These routes complement the Black Sea corridor, which was set up in the autumn of 2023. The Danube and Polish-Baltic corridors are critical for imports, while the Adriatic corridor is particularly important for non-agricultural exports from Ukraine.

More than €2 billion has been mobilized by the European Commission and international financial institutions to support the Solidarity Lanes. Over the past two years, the Commission has played a central role in coordinating efforts among authorities and the transport community in the EU, Ukraine, and Moldova. Efforts have focused on removing administrative and infrastructure bottlenecks and enhancing efficiency, with priorities including traffic management, border procedures, and investments in infrastructure and logistics equipment. Major projects include the EU-funded initiative 'Primus,' aimed at improving navigation on the Danube and the Sulina Canal towards the Black Sea. This project, co-funded by the EU and implemented by Romania with technical assistance from France, seeks to train river pilots and improve information sharing with Ukrainian ports, thereby boosting navigation safety and capacity on the Danube.

The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) has been essential in funding critical border requirements and initiating the integration of Ukraine’s and Moldova’s transport systems into the EU’s TEN-T network. Significant progress has also been made in adopting the European standard gauge, which is key to creating an interoperable EU railway system.

The European Commission is committed to continuing the development of the Solidarity Lanes in collaboration with all relevant partners.