An agreement was reached to complete the construction of the PE VIII corridor

On October 19, 2021, the heads of the relevant ministries of Bulgaria, Northern Macedonia and Albania signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on the completion of the construction of the pan-European transport corridor PE VIII. The corridor runs from the Albanian Durres on the Adriatic Sea to the Bulgarian Varna on the Black Sea via Elbasan (Albania), Skopje (Macedonia), as well as the Bulgarian Pernik, Sofia, Plovdiv and Burgas.

Ten pan-European transport corridors were identified at the Second Pan-European Conference on Transport in Crete back in 1994. It was then noted that forming these corridor lines in Central and Eastern Europe required large investments.

This was reported by the railway magazine Railway Supply.

At the moment, the sections Elin-Pelin – Kostenets and Plovdiv – Burgas are being modernized on the territory of Bulgaria. In addition, the Bulgarian side is implementing a project related to the modernization and construction of the Sofia section – the border with Northern Macedonia.

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Bulgaria has pledged to complete the construction of a 2.5km section from Gueshevo to the border with Northern Macedonia, as well as the modernization of the Sofia-Pernik-Radomir-Gueshevo line. The opening of the tender for works on the section Pernik – Radomir is scheduled for the near future.

Northern Macedonia is responsible for building transport infrastructure to the borders with Bulgaria and Albania, including the 89 km long railway Kumanovo – Belyakovtse – Kryva Palanka – Divi Bair. Projects are also being prepared for the modernization and electrification of the 150 km long Kumanovo-Skopje-Kichevo line, as well as the construction of a 70 km long Kichevo-Stuga-Lin railway.

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Albania has committed to the reconstruction of the Tirana-Durres railway line and the construction of a line to Tirana International Airport. In addition, the Albanian side will carry out the reconstruction of the Durres – Rogozin – Pogradec – Lin line, as well as the construction of a 137 km railway from Lin to the border with Northern Macedonia.

The parties agreed that the PE VIII corridor between the Black and Mediterranean Seas should be considered as a general project covering the infrastructure of all modes of transport, including sea (ports), rail and road. The full completion of the corridor, scheduled for 2030, will increase the efficiency of transport services and improve economic ties between the three countries.

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