site.btaBulgarian, Serbian Ministers Discuss Transport, Infrastructure Projects

Sofia, January 29 (BTA) - Transport, Information Technology and Communications Minister Ivaylo Moskovski, Regional Development and Public Works Minister Nikolai Nankov and Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlovic have come to an agreement in the field of water and rail transport, as well as on other important infrastructure projects, they told a news conference here Monday.

Moskovski and Nankov underscored that the meeting was provoked by Bulgaria priority during its term of Presidency of the Council of the European Union related to the connection and integration of the Western Balkans. Serbia has approved funding from the European Investment Bank for a railway line to the border with Bulgaria. This project is supported financially by the Serbian side and will probably be implemented at faster rates, Moskovski said. Dwelling on the track between Sofia and Dragoman, the Minister said that the two countries will be connected by rail in the next three years.

In spite of some delay in the construction of the 32-km fast track between Sofia and the Serbian border (part of Corridor X), actual works will begin this year, Nankov said. He thanked his Serbian counterpart for the support, thanks to which part of the funding was received along the line of the Connecting Europe Facility. The rest of the project will be covered by own funds and the minister hopes that the Sofia-Nis-Belgrade track will be completed within the next two years and a half. A budget of some 35 million euro has also been secured under the Cross-border Programme for the second programme period. The sides will be able to organize sustainable cross-border projects aimed at municipalities in the two countries and related to the development of tourism, environment and youth policies.

"Serbia's position is EU membership so that the entire region can function and the Western Balkans can be connected at all levels," Mihajlovic said. She recalled the importance of the transport link between the two countries and underscored that last year Serbia already built some 200 km of the Belgrade-Nis road. Funding for the electrification of the Nis-Dimitrovgrad track has also been provided.

Taking a question, the Serbian minister underscored that the upgrade of the Nis-Dimitrovgrad road, as well as the construction of the Nis ring road is the most important project for Serbia and will cost 265 million euro. The natural gas pipeline between Nis and Dimitrovgrad, contracted and funded by European funds, is the other important project.

The sides also decided to work for easing border crossings and lifting custom barriers.

Roaming prices between Bulgaria and Serbia will also drop drastically within six months, Moskovski added.