The European Commission is backing the EAGLE project – a new submarine cable that will connect Egypt, Albania, and Italy

On October 15, 2025, the EU-Western Balkans Investment Forum was held in Tirana, Albania, BalkanEngineer.com learned from a publication on albaniandailynews.com. During the forum, the Hungarian telecommunications and IT group 4iG, the European Commission, and the GÉANT organization signed a joint declaration on the development of strategic digital and telecommunications infrastructure in the Western Balkans region.

The declaration also marks the official launch of the large-scale EAGLE (Egypt–Albania Gateway Link to Europe) project – a new submarine telecommunications cable with a length of about 2,000 km, which will connect Egypt, Albania, and Italy. At the same time, there are plans to build a terrestrial optical network connecting the Western Balkans with important European centers such as Sofia, Vienna, and Frankfurt.

According to 4iG, the new "digital corridor" will provide high-capacity and secure connectivity, which will give a significant boost to digital development in the region. The European Commission has identified the project as a strategic element of the Digital Decade 2030, Global Gateway, and Western Balkans Growth Plan programs, as it will improve the infrastructure needed to implement artificial intelligence, innovation, and technological entrepreneurship.

The European Union's support for the initiative will help overcome the region's technological isolation, reduce connectivity costs, and open up opportunities for scientific, educational, and business partnerships at the international level. The project envisages completion of the submarine route by 2028, while the land network will continue to play a role in connecting European data and telecommunications centers.

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