Skopje, 6 August 2024 (MIA) - We have the same views with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Transport and Communications, but we use different terminology when we speak. I am an economist, the Prime Minister is a mechanical engineer, and the Minister of Transport and Communications is a lawyer. We should look at the essence, that for Corridor 10 we are asking for the same conditions, grant, funds, as for Corridor 8. So, we are asking that the funds be the same for Corridor 10 as approved for Corridor 8. Whether we say that it is repurposing is a technical matter, Minister of Finance Gordana Dimitrieska Kochoska said Tuesday. 

In response to a reporter's question, Dimitrieska Kochoska stressed that the Government's goal at the moment is to help companies by reducing their transport costs.

According to her, Corridor 8 is not a priority now because "with a limited budget and insufficient funds, we do not get any added value from it".

"It is incomprehensible to me that we have different views with the Prime Minister. Our views are the same, but I use economic vocabulary. Terminologically, we speak differently because I am an economist, the Prime Minister is a mechanical engineer, and the Minister of Transport and Communications is a lawyer. First we need to wrap up the Corridor 8 project. There was a tender in the Ministry of Finance, and it needs to be wrapped up. Then we need to say whether we accept it or not. What the Minister of Transport and Communications and the Prime Minister are saying is that we will not accept it because it is not our priority at the moment. In terms of Corridor 8 at this moment, with a limited budget and insufficient funds, we do not get any added value from it. We have companies that get products at the Port of Thessaloniki and currently transport them by truck which costs a lot, rail is much cheaper. If we help in the Corridor 10, to enable transport to be carried out as it should, we will reduce the cost of transport for the companies. We help them because in 2026, with decarbonization, they will have to pay additional penalties for the products they export. Now we are trying to compensate, to reduce the costs in this part so that in the end the balance is positive zero, so that the sales prices of the companies do not change," the Minister said. 

She firmly states that priority must be given to the business that fills the Budget and on which, she noted, many jobs depend.

"With Corridor 8, we will connect Durrës and Burgas. Do you know someone from there to bring products to Macedonia? No. The mileage is very high to both Durrës and Burgas compared to Thessaloniki. We must give priority to our companies and reduce their costs because in due time, due to decarbonization, they will increase. No one is saying that Corridor 8 is not important to us, but when you have limited funds it is normal to first help the business that fills the Budget, and then focus on Corridor 8. This Corridor will certainly not be left out, and it will never happen that we don't do it, but we give priority in conditions of a limited budget in order to provide help where needed," Dimitrieska Kochoska pointed out. 

Photo: MIA archive