By rosebell
Concluding the Corridor 8 cross-border tunnel agreement between Bulgaria and North Macedonia has been welcomed by the European Commission.
With the aim of advancing the preparation, construction and operation of the cross-border railway tunnel, an agreement was signed at the border between the two countries, Bulgaria’s deputy prime minister and minister of transport and communications, Grozdan Karadjov, and North Macedonia’s deputy prime minister and minister of transport, Aleksandar Nikoloski, in previous week at a ceremony at Gyueshevo Railway Station.
Building a 2.4km tunnel between Gyueshevo in Bulgaria and Deve Bair in North Macedonia, the project is being financially supported by the European Commission.
As part of a flagship initiative under the EU’s Global Gateway, this tunnel is an integral element of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
According to the European Commission’s statement:”Joint work on cross-border initiatives like this reinforces good neighbourly relations between Bulgaria and North Macedonia – a key element in the latter’s EU accession process.”
Welcoming this development, EU Council president Antonio Costa said: “The agreement was a big step forward in the co-operation between the two countries and promotes good neighbourly relations. Besides developing bilateral bonds, the new railway will boost regional prosperity, and enhance our common security.”
Corridor 8 links the Adriatic Sea with the Black Sea through Albania, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria.
