Skopje, 12 December 2023 (MIA) - Implementing measures and policies that will facilitate transport and trade, and increasing regional cooperation are a prerequisite for a joint market and EU integration, which is the focus of the Ministerial Council of ministers of transport and infrastructure from the Western Balkans, and representatives from Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine, held in Skopje on Tuesday.

Minister of Transport and Communications Blagoj Bochvarski told a joint press conference with Director for Policy Coordination in the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission, Mona Bjorklund, and Director of Transport Community, Matej Zakonjšek, that transport and trade will increase regional cooperation as a prerequisite for EU integration.

Minister Bochvarski noted that North Macedonia has made significant progress in aligning with EU transport legislation, and that the country has successfully completed bilateral screenings with the European Commission for Chapter 14: Transport Policy and Chapter 21: Trans-European Networks.

"We achieved significant progress regarding the railway system with the law on railway the system, which facilitates the liberalization of the railway market, a remark that was made in past reports of the European Commission," Bochvarski explained.

He also highlighted the investments for the main corridors that pass through North Macedonia.

"Regarding Corridor VIII, we are currently working on the first and second phases in the eastern section of the corridor, the Kumanovo-Beljakovce and Beljakovce-Kriva Palanka railway sections, an investment of over EUR 200 million. By the end of the year we will publish an open call for the third section Kriva Palanka-Deve Bair, which will bring the total investment to over EUR 700 million. We also rehabilitated almost thirty kilometers of the Negotino-Nogaevci railway. In terms of road infrastructure, we are finishing rehabilitation of two Corridor X highway sections, Katlanovo-Petrovec and Demir Kapija-Negotino. Construction has also started in the western section of Corridor VIII, leading to the Albanian border. In the east, construction of the Rankovce-Kriva Palanka expressway and the extension to the Deve Bair border crossing are almost complete," noted Bochvarski.

Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission, Mona Bjorklund, said that today's meeting comes at an important context on an EU level.

"Recently, the European Commission adopted the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans that will bring some of the benefits of EU membership to the region, boost economic growth and accelerate socio-economic convergence," Bjorklund stated.

She welcomed all efforts made by the countries, adding that there is still much to be achieved.

"Almost three quarters of the EU transport acquis still need to be implemented across the region, and we need to step up the pace of these efforts," Bjorklund stressed.

Transport Community director Matej Zakonjšek pointed out that focus should be put on both projects and policy reforms that will go hand-in-hand in order to have meaningful and sustainable development.

"In time of global instability and conflicts, it is very important that we appreciate the work we all put in. We have gathered all in one place to work for a better connection within the EU, to work on improving functionality in Europe," Zakonjšek said. ssh/ik/

Photo: Ministry of Transport and Communications