Albania, Montenegro, Italy, Multimodal Transport Connectivity
The project area is fragmented on two sides of the Adriatic-Ionian Sea between Italy, Albania and Montenegro and on two sides of Shkodra/Skadar Lake and Buna/Bojana River between Albania and Montenegro. The area experiences poor accessibility and is characterized by transport systems with low interoperability, thus negatively affecting intra and interregional connectivity. The aim of the project is to establish a long-term active partnership among the relevant stakeholders, via multimodal inland water and maritime transport connections in order to improve connectivity and to facilitate and promote sustainable cross border cooperation in the project area.

The foreseen actions will provide sustainable cross border transport connections (CBTC) over the project area, by optimizing the existing ones, strengthening management and operational skills, ensuring safety and environmental protection measures. The project will contribute in developing international inland water and maritime transport connectivity by applying EU integrated standards in the maritime and inland water sector. For Albania, this is the first intervention in international inland water transport as the country has only limited experience with Fierza-Koman Lake. The main expected outcomes of the project are i) a comprehensive programme of interventions to improve multimodal connectivity in the project area, ii) pilot intervention for multimodal connectivity in the lake and coastal (maritime) area. The beneficiaries of this program will be local Communities and local public authorities of the target area who will benefit from intensified socio-economic interaction, as well as increased skills and management capacities leading in increased ownership over the assets. To guarantee the above, we have committed to exploring all possibilities to secure funding, including through Berlin Process, CB IPA-EU funds, WBIF and other national funding sources.