site.btaBulgaria's Ministry of Transport Urges North Macedonia to Commit to Cross-Border Railway Plan

The Ministry of Transport and Communications suggested that Bulgaria and North Macedonia start working on an intergovernmental agreement to plan, build, and manage a railway connection between the two countries this Friday.

The Ministry said the following in its statement:

"We are seeing another speculative claim from the authorities in the Republic of North Macedonia about the railway link negotiations. The Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Bulgaria emphasizes that an incorrect approach will not solve this important issue. The ministry suggests signing a clear and practical agreement to address the technical, financial, legal, and organizational aspects of preparing, building, and operating the cross-border railway tunnel between the two countries, in line with European legislation.

"Bulgarian authorities anticipate that signing the agreement will stop the ongoing trend from North Macedonia of seeking further clarifications, explanations, and changes to already established agreements. The goal is to concentrate efforts on specific and clear steps for the project's implementation. We would like to point out that following the technical meeting held on October 31, 2024, in Sofia, there is still no agreement from North Macedonia on the minutes of the discussion, yet insinuations and accusations against Bulgarian institutions continue. We have repeatedly emphasized that the cost and issues related to the construction of the railway line from Kriva Palanka to the border with the Republic of Bulgaria are entirely the responsibility of North Macedonia and cannot be subject to negotiations between the two countries. Bulgaria has clearly defined its deadlines and commitments for the construction of the Corridor VIII route on its territory.

"Negotiations on the railway link have turned into a platform for political messaging and attempts to address our neighbours' internal political issues, which are unrelated to the mutual interest in advancing the project. Using football terminology in this context is disrespectful to the constructive and amicable tone that Bulgarian representatives uphold and promote, and it is an uncommon form of communication between two neighbouring countries.

"We propose the signing of an agreement where both parties commit to the construction of a cross-border railway tunnel between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia, located in the border area of the railway line, as a shared objective. This involves one of the parties handling public procurement for the tunnel's construction and supervision, as well as seeking grant funding for the project. The completed tunnel must comply with EU and NATO standards for such infrastructure. A preliminary timeline for the tunnel's planning and construction will be prepared soon after the agreement is signed and submitted to the European Commission and European financial institutions. The agreement will also establish a Joint Committee to coordinate all activities and address issues related to the construction, operation, and maintenance of the tunnel, following the relevant decisions of both parties.

"Our proposal for clear commitments, specific actions, and deadlines will restore practical and reasonable dialogue and ensure real progress on the project".