Support the development of smart transport infrastructure, promote fostering of innovative technologies

ROADMAP PROGRESS

The GARI 2025 reports that progress on this action remains gradual and concentrated on policy alignment and preparatory activities. Regional cooperation and technical assistance facilitated by the Transport Community has supported advances in Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), the digitalisation of transport procedures, and alignment with the relevant EU acquis. Based on the Western Balkans Digital Economy and Society Index (WB DESI) for 2024, the digital infrastructure dimension has improved, although the WB6 continue to lag behind the EU in network coverage and the uptake of fast fixed-line broadband services. 5G services are available in North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo* and Albania, while the auction process is underway in Serbia.

Some developments have been observed in paperless transport initiatives, cross-border/boundary data exchange and early steps towards multimodal integration, including preparatory work on electronic freight transport information under  Regulation (EU) 2020/1056 on electronic freight transport information, which no WB6 has yet transposed. Nonetheless, advanced applications, including artificial intelligence, mobility-as-a-service solutions and 5G transport corridors, remain at an early stage and uneven across the WB6. No WB6 has yet adopted a comprehensive domestic strategic plan for artificial intelligence, although initial steps are emerging through broader digital transformation policies such as the Digital Agenda of Albania 2022 to 2026. The EU4Digital – Accelerating the Digital Transition in the Western Balkans (GIZ factsheet) programme, launched in 2024, co-financed by the EU and BMZ and implemented by GIZ, supports this transition through an e-freight pillar that will develop domestic eFTI implementation plans and address the strategic, legal, technical, institutional and financial prerequisites for implementation across all WB6.

Note: Action 17 of the first Green Agenda Action Plan (2021–2030), which focused on supporting the development of smart transport infrastructure and fostering innovative technologies, is not retained as a standalone action in the Revised Action Plan (2025–2030). Its objectives are addressed through the Reform and Growth Plan.

Source: Transport Community (2025). Progress Report on Implementation of Next Generation Action Plans and EU Acquis Transposition for Western Balkans. Belgrade: Transport Community Secretariat. Data reproduced in: Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) (2025). Report on the Implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans Action Plan (GARI 2025). Sarajevo: RCC, the chart on the implementation rate of ITS measures on core and comprehensive road networks (Section 2.3).

Figure 5: Speed test – median mobile download speed (Mbps) in the WB6 and neighbours

Source: Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) (2025). Report on the Implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans Action Plan (GARI 2025), Figure 5. Sarajevo: RCC.