site.btaBulgaria, Greece Sign Memorandum on Rail Transport Corridor

Kavala, September 6 (BTA special correspondent Antoan Nikolov) - Bulgarian Transport, Information Technology and Communications Minister Ivaylo Moskovski and Greek Infrastructure, Transport and Networks Minister Christos Spirtzis signed a Memorandum of Understanding between Bulgaria and Greece on the development of the the Thessaloniki-Kavala-Alexandroupolis-Bourgas- Varna-Rousse rail link here on Wednesday. Prime Ministers Boyko Borissov of Bulgaria and Alexis Tsipras of Greece attended the signing ceremony.

The Bulgarian PM, who arrived in Greece on Tuesday evening at the head of an official government delegation, said that the signing of the project "continues the linking of transport hubs in the region". He added that after Serbia and Romania join the project, the Thessaloniki-Kavala-Alexandroupolis-Bourgas- Varna-Rousse railway stands a realistic chance of turning from a piece of paper into an important transport facility.

Both Bulgaria and Greece regard the forthcoming Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council as a Balkan Presidency, it emerged from statements by the two countries' heads of government after the signing of the Memorandum. "We will do what it takes so that the Balkans would no longer be a powder keg but become a role model of prosperity. Mr Tsipras and I can play an important part for prosperity on the Balkans. We have a tangible chance of demonstrating that the Balkans have a political elite," Borissov said.

The Bulgarian PM is confident that the project will be defended before the European Commission. A meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has been requested for October, at which he will be briefed on the ideas for development of the region and will be asked for support, the Government Information Service said in a press release.

Tsipras said for his part that the document which was being signed was historic for both Greece and Bulgaria. "New opportunities are being created for the two countries' economic prosperity," the Greek PM said. In his words, Greece and Bulgaria are already pursuing cooperation "with high regional vigour".

Tsipras added that the project satisfies needs that have been identified decades ago. Under the Memorandum, three large Greek ports will be linked to three large Bulgarian ports. The Greek Prime Minister sees this agreement as a lever of development for the entire region. "This is a very important project which links the Aegean to the Danube," he said.

The project is to link the Bulgarian ports of Rousse (on the Danube), Varna and Bourgas (on the Black Sea) via Svilengrad to the Greek Aegean ports of Thessaloniki, Kavala and Alexandroupolis and to develop them as part of the core Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). The route is to be served by a dual track electrified railway with implementation of a rail traffic management system compliant with European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) standards. The document regulates preparatory work and co-management of the high-speed railway corridor by the two countries through the establishment of a joint venture

The tentative cost of the project in its Bulgarian section is 1,070 million euro, and the transport facilities are supposed to be built within 10 years or so.

The leaders of Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and Serbia will meet in Varna on October 3 to discuss an extension of the Memorandum of Cooperation that Bulgaria and Greece signed in Kavala on Wednesday, Borissov told a news conference after the signing ceremony. The project, which is to reach Rousse, can thus be extended to Bucharest, the Bulgarian PM said.

Tsipras pointed out that the project is strategically important for the entire region.

He noted that new vistas are opening up on Europe's energy map as well, adding that these subjects will be discussed shortly at the level of ministers.