North Macedonia and Bulgaria have signed a landmark agreement to build the long-awaited Corridor 8 railway, which will directly connect the capitals Skopje and Sofia — a project hailed as a key step for regional integration and economic growth.
The signing ceremony took place at the Gjueshevo railway station, where North Macedonia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski and Bulgaria’s Regional Development Minister Grozdan Karadzhov put their signatures on the agreement.
“This connection between Skopje and Sofia will bring substantial social and economic benefits to the entire region,” the two ministers said in a joint statement.
EU and international backing
Valentina Superti, head of the European Commission’s Directorate for the Western Balkans, said the project carries “strategic importance not only for North Macedonia and Bulgaria but for the entire Western Balkans.”
The European Union is providing financial support as part of its broader plan to boost regional connectivity and economic development. Representatives from the European Commission, NATO, the United States, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the World Bank attended the ceremony.
US Ambassador Angela Aggeler was also present, underscoring the project’s geopolitical relevance in the current regional context.
Details of the construction
The agreement covers the construction of a cross-border rail tunnel, stretching 2.4 kilometers in total — 1,189 meters on the Macedonian side and 1,194 meters on the Bulgarian side. Corridor 8, which links the Adriatic and Black Seas, will give North Macedonia access to two ports, enhancing its economic competitiveness.
Railway construction began in 1994 and is considered a project of national priority. The first section, Kumanovo–Beljakovce (30.8 km), has already been completed with an investment of €40.5 million. The second section, Beljakovce–Kriva Palanka (34 km), is 35% finished and expected to be completed by the end of 2026, at a cost exceeding €155 million.
The final section from Kriva Palanka to the Bulgarian border will include 22 tunnels and 52 bridges, among them the main cross-border tunnel. A public tender for the contractor is expected to be announced next month.
Strategic and economic significance
Corridor 8 is considered a NATO strategic transport route and is expected to increase freight traffic by more than 30% and passenger transport by up to 25% in the first years of operation. It will enable faster and cheaper movement of goods and people, boost trade and tourism, attract investment, and strengthen regional integration.
The agreement marks a major milestone for both North Macedonia and Bulgaria, reinforcing their commitment to improved infrastructure, economic growth, and long-term regional stability.