The European Union has approved a €2.8 million grant to support the construction of a joint border railway station between North Macedonia and Serbia, officials said on Wednesday. The financing, provided through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), will complement a €5 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
The agreement was signed in Skopje by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikolovski and EBRD Head of North Macedonia Fatih Türkmenoğlu.
The joint border crossing will be located in Tabanovce, North Macedonia, on Corridor X, a key Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) route extending into the Western Balkans. The project aims to streamline customs procedures, reduce waiting times, and improve regional connectivity.
The construction will include upgrading existing railway station infrastructure, building new energy-efficient facilities, and installing photovoltaic panels. The one-stop border control will allow customs officials from both countries to work in a shared facility, optimizing clearance procedures and improving transport efficiency for passengers and freight.
EU Ambassador to North Macedonia Michalis Rokas said the investment would help transform border barriers into opportunities for faster connections to the EU.
“With this €2.8 million grant, the EU is directly supporting the upgrade of the Corridor X railway system. And this is just the beginning. Through the new Reform and Growth Facility, the EU’s commitment to regional connectivity will grow even stronger,” Rokas said.
EBRD’s Türkmenoğlu emphasized the bank’s role in strengthening North Macedonia’s transport links.
“This project is the result of coordinated efforts between the EBRD, EU/WBIF, and the governments of North Macedonia and Serbia. We are proud to support it. In the railway sector alone, the EBRD has invested over €340 million in North Macedonia,” he said.
Transport Minister Nikolovski said the €7.4 million project, including €250,000 for consultancy and supervision, could lay the groundwork for re-establishing regular passenger rail service between Skopje and Belgrade.
“This joint rail crossing will improve communication and trade between North Macedonia and Serbia. We hope it will serve as a step toward restoring passenger railway connections between our capitals,” he said.
Corridor X is North Macedonia’s primary trade artery, facilitating imports and exports to Europe. The improved rail infrastructure is expected to increase economic activity, create jobs, and enhance the country’s attractiveness as a transit hub.
The project is a key priority under the European Commission’s connectivity agenda for the Western Balkans and is expected to break ground later this year.
