site.btaNorth Macedonia Stresses Joint Effort to Make Corridor VIII a Reality

Pan-European Corridor VIII can succeed if all key stakeholders act together, North Macedonia’s Foreign Minister Timco Mucunski said at a press conference in the Albanian capital Tirana on Wednesday following a ministerial-level meeting on the transport corridor.

Mucunski specified that this includes both the countries through which the corridor passes – Albania, North Macedonia and Bulgaria – and those to which it extends – Italy and Romania.

“The strategic significance of Italy on the Adriatic Sea and the role of Romania on the Black Sea and in the wider regional economic context […] are crucial if we want this to truly be a European end-to-end connection,” Mucunski stated.

He emphasized that Wednesday’s meeting had been discussed recently in Brussels, along with plans for a follow-up meeting.

The Foreign Minister expressed North Macedonia’s readiness to host the next meeting in this format, adding that the country is also “prepared to hold it as a joint host together with Bulgaria as a clear gesture of shared responsibility for both Corridor VIII and Euro-Atlantic values.”

“We are here because Corridor VIII is not simply a line on a map. It is a strategic link between the Adriatic Sea and the Black Sea. In today’s world, connectivity is not just a slogan; it is a form of strength,” he said.

According to the minister, Wednesday’s meeting was very practical, as it addressed where progress on the project has been made, what is delaying it, and what requires more political attention.

“We share a clear and fundamental understanding: this corridor must function as a single system across borders. Not as separate projects that stop at the next border checkpoint. For my country, the commitment is clear – we are at the centre of Corridor VIII, and we will make it happen,” he said.

Mucunski recalled an agreement signed in November 2025 for the construction of a railway tunnel between North Macedonia and Bulgaria, describing it as a “key cornerstone.”

He added that the first segment of the railway line, to the east, is complete, the second is currently under construction, and work on the third is ongoing.

Regarding roads, Mucunski said the country’s goal is to connect the Kafasan checkpoint (on the border with Albania near Lake Ohrid) and Deve Bair checkpoint (with Bulgaria) by 2029.

Mucunski also noted that the energy component of Corridor VIII makes the region more resilient to pressure and allows for faster recovery.