site.btaOutgoing Transport Minister Karadjov: North-South Must Become Working Corridor

North-South should become a genuinely functioning transport corridor with practical solutions and clear deadlines, outgoing Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov told reporters on Friday.

He spoke ahead of a four-way meeting between Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and the European Commission in Sofia on the Black Sea-Aegean Sea corridor. Karadjov is hosting the forum, which launches practical work on a cooperation platform set up on December 3 by Bulgaria, Romania and Greece with the European Commission’s support.

He said the three countries would coordinate planning, design, permitting and delivery to avoid delays and bureaucratic hurdles. Karadjov listed Bulgaria’s priorities as accelerating a new Danube bridge between Ruse and Giurgiu, planning additional crossings along the roughly 470-kilometre border, and restoring Danube ferry links, including the currently non-operational Ruse-Giurgiu service.

Karadjov also cited rail connectivity along the Western axis from Athens via Thessaloniki, Sofia and Bucharest, including a possible joint bid for European funding to develop a high-speed route, restoring regular Sofia-Thessaloniki services, and electrifying the Ruse–Giurgiu rail bridge.

“We are moving to the implementation stage. Bulgaria is ready to work in a disciplined manner, in coordination with its partners and with clearly set deadlines,” Karadjov said.