site.btaPM Mickoski Expects Rail Corridor VIII Tunnel Between Bulgaria and North Macedonia to Be Funded by EU Grant

North Macedonia's Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski expects an EU grant to finance a tunnel between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, part of Rail Corridor VIII.

Mickoski expressed satisfaction with the progress made during a June 28 meeting between Bulgarian Transport Minister Grozdan Karadjov and Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski of North Macedonia at the Global Transport Connectivity Forum 2025 in Istanbul. "This is a step forward. This is how neighbours should build trust, implement projects together, and deal with potential challenges. I believe this is a strong message," Mickoski told the media after participating in the launch of a new production facility at the Replek pharmaceutical company.

Interviewed by TV Sitel on Monday, Transport Minister Nikoloski spoke about an expert meeting involving the European Commission concerning the Rail Corridor VIII tunnel interconnection between Bulgaria and North Macedonia.

In his words, North Macedonia received answers to the questions it raised at the meeting in Turkiye. He said North Macedonia must do its part of the work, "but so must Bulgaria," and Skopje should be connected "not just with Kriva Palanka, but with Sofia, and from there with [the Black Sea ports of] Burgas and Varna, and for this to happen, Bulgaria must modernize its railways."

"First, it has already been agreed that the tunnel will be built jointly, and an expert-level meeting about this will take place in Brussels on July 16. Second, a document will be signed, a joint declaration. We are working on drafting this document as soon as possible with high-level teams from both governments," said Nikoloski, who noted that the Bulgarian side has stated clearly it will invest EUR 1.5 billion in the stretch between Sofia and Gyueshevo/Deve Bair (at the border between the two countries).

"In July, August and September, if the two sides reach agreement, we will submit a joint application to the EU for a grant to build the tunnel as an interconnection between the two countries. This is our idea, which has been accepted by the Bulgarian side," Nikoloski announced.

According to him, what was initially a "purely engineering or design issue regarding the railway interconnection with Bulgaria" turned into a political matter under Bulgaria's caretaker governments, "and this must be avoided in the future."

Aleksandar Nikoloski indicated from the start of his term a year ago that Rail Corridor VIII was not a priority for the government in Skopje. He said the route needed to be redesigned because it cannot end "in a tunnel that leads nowhere."

During her visit to Skopje on Tuesday, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos praised the government in Skopje for the agreement with Bulgaria to work on Corridor VIII. She said this corridor is important not only for North Macedonia and Bulgaria but for the entire region. It is important for the EU, and is especially significant because it will be part of the new Black Sea Strategy approved at the European Commission level, said Kos.