Ministers discussed the acceleration of transport connectivity in Southeast Europe at a conference in Sofia

SOFIA – The acceleration of transport connectivity in Southeast Europe was the focus of a ministerial conference organized under the auspices of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdian Karadzhov, the ministry’s press center reported. The event is part of Sofia’s presidency of the Cooperation Process in Southeast Europe.

“Regional connectivity is at the heart of our presidency. It is a key driver of economic development, security, and the integration of the region into European networks,” said Minister Karadzhov at the opening of the forum.

We are investing over 1.5 billion euros in the modernization of the railway route Sofia – Gyueshevo (Western Bulgaria, to the border with the Republic of North Macedonia). This is a strategic project, part of the European corridor “Western Balkans – Eastern Mediterranean,” and will provide a fast connection to Skopje and Tirana, Karadzhov stated. “At the same time, we are working on the modernization of the Sofia – Kalotina line with European funding, and we are making progress with Ankara on a project for a new railway connection Yambol (Southeastern Bulgaria) – Elhovo – Lesovo – Edirne. This is our vision for true regional connectivity,” Karadzhov said.

“The last section of the ‘Europe’ highway is already a fact. Our next step is the ‘Black Sea’ highway – a project of immense importance for freight and passenger traffic north and south,” said the transport minister. “We are planning a new highway starting from Ruse (at the Danube River), which will pass under the Stara Planina and reach our southern border,” Karadzhov stated.

The development of the ports of Varna and Burgas (Eastern Bulgaria) is among the leading priorities. By the end of 2025, we will initiate a public-private partnership procedure for the Varna-East and Varna-West terminals. They will become key logistics gateways between Europe and Asia, part of the Trans-Caspian (Middle) corridor, the Deputy Prime Minister stated.

The conference was attended by the transport ministers from Ankara, Athens, Pristina, state secretaries from Bucharest, Belgrade, Skopje, and Podgorica, as well as the Secretary General of the International Transport Forum Yong Tae Kim, representatives of the diplomatic missions in Sofia of the participants in the Cooperation Process in Southeast Europe. 

This summer, Albania handed over the presidency of the Cooperation Process in Southeast Europe to Bulgaria. (October 16)