BLED – Transport corridors must be managed as integrated systems rather than as a collection of separate national projects, Director of the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community Tālis Linkaits said today at the Bled Strategic Forum 2026.
Speaking at the panel “Corridors of Power: Connectivity, Trade, and Europe’s Strategic Position”, Linkaits stressed that successful corridors depend not only on infrastructure, but also on coordinated border procedures, standards, safety rules, customs, financing and operations.
“A corridor only works if it is treated as one system. If one part of the chain does not work, the whole corridor loses efficiency,” he said.
Linkaits highlighted the role of the Transport Community in supporting regional coordination, monitoring the TEN-T extension and advancing interoperability and market integration across the Western Balkans, as well as cooperation with Moldova and Ukraine.
He also underlined that corridor performance should be measured through practical results for users, including journey times, border waiting times, reliability, safety and digital readiness.
Looking ahead, Linkaits said the priority should be on improvements that freight operators can directly experience.
“Within 12 months, I would not promise new infrastructure. I would promise more predictability and better information.”
The session was moderated by Matej Zakonjšek, former Director of the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community, and brought together speakers from government, international finance, business and civil society to examine how better connected and more effectively governed corridors can strengthen trade, economic resilience and Europe’s strategic position.
The Bled Strategic Forum 2026, taking place in Bled, Slovenia, on 31 August and 1 September, brings together political, institutional, business and civil society leaders for discussions on Europe’s role and capacity to shape its future.
