The Bulgarian government said in a statement on Monday that it is following with growing concern North Macedonia officials' statements and declarations which imply violating international commitments for infrastructure connectivity, including by re-channelling EU funding intended for the construction of the railway component of Corridor 8 to another transport project.
The statement, published by the government press service in Sofia, says that North Macedonia has repeatedly confirmed its commitment to connecting its infrastructure with that of Bulgaria, including through Corridor 8. Such confirmations are contained in the bilateral Good-neighbourliness Treaty of 2017 and the protocols to it, dated 2019 and 2022, an October 2021 Memorandum of Understanding between Albania, Bulgaria and North Macedonia, a November 2023 Joint Declaration of Albania, Bulgaria, Italy and North Macedonia and declarations of the NATO Summit of July 2024, among other documents.
The Bulgarian government said: "Trans-European Corridor 8 is not just a link between the Republic of North Macedonia and Bulgaria. It is aimed to increase the geostrategic autonomy of the EU. It is becoming a principal logistical route along NATO's southern flank from the Adriatic to the Black Sea and has acquired great significance at the current geopolitical moment. The refusal to build basic components of Corridor 8 weakens the Alliance's collective security.
"The Republic of Bulgaria has raised the issue of building Corridor 8 at the highest level on more than one occasion and has successfully lobbied for EU funding for its construction, including for the Republic of North Macedonia. Thanks to Bulgaria's efforts, Corridor 8 was incorporated in the Western Balkans-Eastern Mediterranean European Transport Corridor as a priority for the EU. At the end of 2023, the segment between Kriva Palanka and Deve Bair was designated by the EU as one of six flagship projects under the Global Portal strategy and funded with more than EUR 500 million in grants and loans. The upgrading and completion of the railway component of Corridor 8 in Bulgaria is part of the National Programme for Transport Connectivity 2021-2027.
"We call on the government of the Republic of North Macedonia to show responsibility and good faith for all commitments and agreements for timely construction of the segments of Trans-European Corridor 8 in that country."
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