The EU may support the implementation of digital customs systems within the framework of TRIPP

Digital transformation is key to improving the efficiency and competitiveness of TRIPP ("Trump's Route for International Peace and Prosperity").

As Report informs, this is stated in an article by the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP).

It is noted that, drawing on the experience of implementing the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), Brussels can - at the request of Armenia and Azerbaijan - facilitate the development and implementation of digital customs and transit platforms. These are systems that ensure seamless electronic data exchange, paperless document flow, and real-time cargo tracking.

According to the author, supporting the implementation of standardized customs codes, electronic seals, and intelligent logistics technologies, including radio frequency identification (RFID), will align TRIPP's operating systems with TRACECA (Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia) standards and European digital norms. Additionally, EU capacity-building programs in integrated border management can enhance the skills of customs and border services, reduce delays, and promote legal and procedural harmonization along the route, subject to an official request from Armenia and Azerbaijan.

In parallel, the EU, as noted in the article, can participate in financing the creation of a technical coordination platform between Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, and Georgia - potentially with EU and US co-chairmanship. "Such a platform could facilitate regulation harmonization, synchronization of technical standards, and simplification of data exchange. Using experience in managing transnational corridors, the EU is capable of facilitating the development of real-time data exchange systems, digital monitoring dashboards, and cargo flow tracking tools to identify bottlenecks and coordinate infrastructure maintenance," the author emphasizes.

In the same context, the EU can provide legal advisory assistance to participating states in developing and updating intergovernmental transit agreements in accordance with international transport conventions and European practice. Additionally, the creation of a joint research platform or academic consortium involving experts from neighboring countries is proposed to prepare analytical materials and support data-based decision-making.

Special attention in the article is given to the problem of mine contamination, which remains one of the most serious obstacles to recovery and development, limits access to agricultural land, delays construction, and disrupts trade routes between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In this regard, the author proposes increasing funding for demining programs, including the supply of detection drones, specialized equipment and machinery, development of mapping and data management systems, as well as training and certification of local teams. A multi-year funding framework under the Team Europe initiative is proposed as a sustainable support mechanism.

According to the author, the EU could approach the TRIPP project with the same strategic vision that underpinned the implementation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline: "In the 1990s, despite Azerbaijan's limited financial resources, political support and investments from the EU, US, and international companies made this project possible, strengthening the country's independence and regional cooperation between Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey."

Similarly, TRIPP today needs sustainable political, technical, and economic support from the EU and US. Such participation, according to the author, will contribute to the diversification of EU trade and transport routes, strengthen regional interconnectivity, and form the basis for future strategic infrastructure projects in the South Caucasus and Caspian region. It is emphasized that the EU's role should be determined by the explicit consent of the US, Azerbaijan, and Armenia and should complement, not replace, local responsibility, preserving full control over the process for Baku and Yerevan.