Bulgaria and North Macedonia sign agreement on cross-border railway tunnel

The Council of Ministers approved amendments to the Agreement between Bulgaria and North Macedonia on the preparation, construction and operation of a cross-border railway tunnel. “Following correspondence, notes were received from North Macedonia, which the Bulgarian government accepts and approves the final document,” the government press service has reported.

The length of the tunnel and its distribution between the two countries were specified, as well as the fact that after it is finished, each side will be responsible for the maintenance of its part of the facility.

The signing of the agreement is a key step towards connecting the railway systems of the two countries and completing the Sofia - Skopje - Durres - Bari railway corridor, which is part of the Western Balkans - Eastern Mediterranean transport corridor and the strategic Corridor 8. The document is expected to be signed by the end of the year and subsequently sent to the European Commission and European financing institutions, BGNES reports.