Athens, 29 October 2024 (MIA) – Our citizens deserve EU membership to secure a better future. As a government, we have committed to implementing the necessary reforms that lie ahead. Our path to the EU is very challenging, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Aleksandar Nikoloski said in an interview with the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, MIA’s Athens correspondent reports.

He noted that, as a government, they believe in European values and are therefore working to unite their citizens with those in the European Union.

“What Bulgaria is doing by placing a veto on our accession talks is unjustified. It is not in line with European values. We have a clear goal, and we believe that one day we will stand as equals with most countries in Europe,” Nikoloski said.

In the interview titled ‘We Want Closer Cooperation,’ he discusses the country’s EU prospects, as well as the natural gas interconnector with Greece, the railway network, the agreement with Bulgaria regarding Corridor 8, and calls for regional cooperation rather than individual actions by each country.
He expressed readiness to move forward with the construction of a natural gas interconnector with Greece, stating that ‘unfortunately gas supply comes entirely from Russia’ and therefore, as he states, 'it is necessary to reduce this dependency.'

“The Greece-North Macedonia interconnector pipeline is the solution for an alternative gas supply for the country,” he said, emphasizing that “this is a major project that will have great importance for both countries and for many other European countries as well.”

He also notes that “the only way to make progress is by creating joint projects that will bring the two countries even closer.” He underscores the necessity for better connectivity among Western Balkan countries, as well as enhanced infrastructure and communications, to strengthen diplomatic ties between the countries.”

In the interview with Kathimerini, Nikoloski also discusses the significance of the railway network and connectivity, stressing that “the new high-speed railway is the future of the region.”

Nikoloski emphasizes that 'by enhancing the railway system in the region, we will bolster the economy, foster a better investment climate, create new jobs, and our companies will be able to export and import more goods, as reported by MIA.

He explains that the faster transfer of goods from Greek ports to Central Europe will bring stability to the entire region and assist the economies, particularly those of the countries connected to Corridor 10.

“We need to act as a region, not as individual countries. We should set politics aside and focus on economies to create a prosperous region,” he notes.
He refers to the agreement with Bulgaria for the continuation of the construction of Corridor 8, emphasizing its importance and stating that, along with Corridor 10, it will provide a 'great benefit.’

“However, our neighbors must commit to its development. It makes no sense for us to build it while our neighbors do not," comments the minister, explaining that the existing plan is not feasible and very expensive, amounting to 560 million euros for 24 kilometers. Therefore, he points out that a new plan will need to be created, costs recalculated, and “Bulgaria must commit and guarantee that it will construct its part.”

In the interview, he notes that an expressway connecting Skopje to the Bulgarian border is also in progress, with completion expected by next year.

Las week, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski took part in the second ‘Southeast Europe Connectivity Forum’ held in Thessaloniki. Besides giving a speech, he held several meetings, including with the Greek Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Christos Staikouras and Minister for Maritime Affairs and Island Policy Christos Stylianides.

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