North Macedonia and Bulgaria have agreed to move forward with the construction of a cross-border railway tunnel as part of the pan-European Corridor VIII, officials said following a high-level meeting in Brussels.
The tunnel, which will connect the towns of Gjueshevo in Bulgaria and Deve Bair in North Macedonia, will be built according to the existing technical design submitted by North Macedonia. Both sides committed to exploring joint applications for funding through the European Union or other financial institutions.
The meeting, hosted by Valentina Superti, Director for the Western Balkans at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement, brought together transport officials from both countries. North Macedonia was represented by State Secretary Stefan Volkanovski and Infrastructure Railways Director Siniša Ivanovski, while Bulgaria was represented by Deputy Transport Minister Lyuben Nanov.
“The discussions reaffirmed the commitment of both parties to completing the Corridor VIII railway section, with particular focus on the cross-border tunnel,” North Macedonia’s Ministry of Transport said in a statement.
As part of the agreement, the two sides will establish working groups to finalize the draft of an intergovernmental agreement by the end of July, outlining technical, financial, construction, and operational responsibilities.
The countries also agreed to relaunch the tender process for construction works on the rail segment from Kriva Palanka to the tunnel entrance by the end of 2025.
The European Investment Bank, which participated in the meeting, expressed readiness to provide technical assistance and support in the overall process.
Corridor VIII is a strategic infrastructure project linking the Adriatic and Black Seas, running through Albania, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria. Of the three countries, only North Macedonia is currently carrying out active railway construction.
The eastern section of Corridor VIII, which connects North Macedonia and Bulgaria, forms part of the EU’s Western Balkans–Eastern Mediterranean transport network.
The first segment of the railway from Kumanovo to Beljakovce (31 kilometers) was completed in January. Construction of the second section toward Kriva Palanka is 27.3% complete, with a projected completion date of 2026.
BRUSSELS, July 18 (Reuters) – North Macedonia and Bulgaria have agreed to move forward with the construction of a cross-border railway tunnel as part of the pan-European Corridor VIII, officials said following a high-level meeting in Brussels.
The tunnel, which will connect the towns of Gjueshevo in Bulgaria and Deve Bair in North Macedonia, will be built according to the existing technical design submitted by North Macedonia. Both sides committed to exploring joint applications for funding through the European Union or other financial institutions.
The meeting, hosted by Valentina Superti, Director for the Western Balkans at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement, brought together transport officials from both countries. North Macedonia was represented by State Secretary Stefan Volkanovski and Infrastructure Railways Director Siniša Ivanovski, while Bulgaria was represented by Deputy Transport Minister Lyuben Nanov.
“The discussions reaffirmed the commitment of both parties to completing the Corridor VIII railway section, with particular focus on the cross-border tunnel,” North Macedonia’s Ministry of Transport said in a statement.
As part of the agreement, the two sides will establish working groups to finalize the draft of an intergovernmental agreement by the end of July, outlining technical, financial, construction, and operational responsibilities.
The countries also agreed to relaunch the tender process for construction works on the rail segment from Kriva Palanka to the tunnel entrance by the end of 2025.
The European Investment Bank, which participated in the meeting, expressed readiness to provide technical assistance and support in the overall process.
Corridor VIII is a strategic infrastructure project linking the Adriatic and Black Seas, running through Albania, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria. Of the three countries, only North Macedonia is currently carrying out active railway construction.
The eastern section of Corridor VIII, which connects North Macedonia and Bulgaria, forms part of the EU’s Western Balkans–Eastern Mediterranean transport network.
The first segment of the railway from Kumanovo to Beljakovce (31 kilometers) was completed in January. Construction of the second section toward Kriva Palanka is 27.3% complete, with a projected completion date of 2026.