site.btaBulgaria, Macedonia Draft Memorandum to Develop Transport Links, Connectivity

Sofia, April 27 (BTA) - Bulgaria and Macedonia will sign a cooperation memorandum to develop transport links and connectivity between the two countries within two months. The details were agreed on Thursday during a meeting here between Regional Development Minister Nikolai Nankov and visiting Macedonian Local Self-Government Minister Suhejl Fazliu.

The memorandum was agreed during a joint meeting of the governments of Bulgaria and Macedonia in November 2017.

The goodneighbourliness and partnership treaty between the two countries prioritizes the development of transport ties and connectivity, transport corridor 8 and the border crossing between Stroumiani and Berovo.

As the best example for the partnership between Bulgaria and Macedonia, Minister Nankov cited the EU-backed cross-border cooperation programme which has tapped 97 per cent of the available funding.

Nankov said that transport corridor 8 was vital to connectivity in the region. Following the EU-Western Balkans Summit in May the next step will be to lay out a road map with specific timelines and commitments for the implementation of the transport infrastructure projects. The section of Corridor 8 on the territory of Bulgaria has been almost completed and only 40 km remain to be finished.

Another key project for both countries is a new border crossing between Stanke Lisichkovo and Zlatarevo midway on the Bulgarian-Macedonian border. Nankov said that Bulgaria should complete its facilities by 2020.

Minister Fazliu noted that the cross-border cooperation and the good neighbourliness treaty are a sign that bilateral relations are advancing. Fazliu thanked his Bulgarian counterpart for the support provided by Bulgaria to Macedonia in its EU accession. The Macedonian Minister said that the two countries should begin pragmatic cooperation towards the balanced economic development, good local self-government and cross-border policies.