DEVELOPMENT OF INTERMODAL TRANSPORT IN THE ADRIATIC-IONIAN AREA - ALBANIAN CASE

The Adriatic and Ionian Seas area, included in the MultiAPPRO project and promoted by the South East Europe Motorway, in itself is a major European HUB, for the transport and flows of the goods of global dimension. Around 134 million tons per year (about 22%) of this flow passes from this area to the inland. Our port of Durrës is one of the most important links in Short Sea Shiping of the Mediterranean Region. Strong investments have made it possible for the port infrastructure and the national inland network to enable the objective of handling and processing part for the flows of goods, which passes through the Adriatic Sea Area. The connection of the Albanian inland road and railway networks is realized with the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) through all border crossing points (BCPs). It is based on the EU system that creates connectivity links between all core and comprehensive networks. However, the preferred solution of viable alternatives depends on the policies adopted by each neighboring member state. Therefore, the impact assessment (IA), socio-economic, financial, environmental (EIA), infrastructure, health and safety, and quality assurance and technical compliance remains yet in the national and regional challenges [1]. Based on the EU perspective of national and regional plans for economic growth and employment, through the transport of goods, according to the MultiAPPRO project, with Albania's as a regional participant, the established cooperation for regional cohesion and connectivity is of enoumous importance. Due to the very favorable geographical position, in the Adriatic and Ioanian region, our country Albania might serve as a basis for processing and dispatching goods, in the Western Balkans, to the countries of Southeast (SEE) and Central Europe (CEFTA) and beyond in the Eurasian transport links (EATL).