site.btaTransport Minister Discusses with EC Projects under Transport Connectivity Programme 2021-2027

Transport Minister Georgi Gvozdeykov  and a delegation of the European Commission discussed projects, approved for funding under the Transport Connectivity Programme 2021-2027, the Ministry said on Wednesday.

These include an intermodal terminal in Ruse. After the project was excluded from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Gvozdeykov said that the government is seeking ways to fund it. “The terminal fully corresponds with the policy for boosting investments in Northern Bulgaria and encouraging intermodal transport,” said Gvozdeykov at a meeting with Agnes Monfret, head of the Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovenia Unit with the Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy. 

According to the Minister, when planning investments under the Transport Connectivity Programme 2012-2027, a balance will be sought between Northern and Southern Bulgaria.  "The past two programme periods clearly show that there is need for considerable speeding up of the implementation of railroad projects, where the biggest delays are generated,” said Minister Gvozdeykov.  

The EC delegation underscored the need for strengthened monitoring of these projects both at a national and European level to avoid the risk of failure to absorb the money at the end of the programme period. 

The two sides also discussed a project for an intermodal railway station Obelya, which will link the Sofia underground with the rail network. Martin Georgiev, head of the Managing Authority of the Transport Connectivity Programme 2021-2027, said that the railway station will be used by 12,000 passengers daily. He said that the project will bring added value to rail transport to Dragoman, Kyustendil and Bozhurishte.