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The Republic of North Macedonia is committed to achieving the goals set within NATO for the creation of regional infrastructure as part of the European network of transport corridors. Taking into account the geopolitical position of the country as a natural crossroads of two very important trans-European corridors – Corridor VIII and Corridor X, Skopje is undertaking activities for their completion and modernization.
The European Union supports both corridors, which are of strategic importance for the continent and its connectivity. The prioritization of the relevant projects by North Macedonia is its decision and depends on the needs of the country, the impact analysis and the availability of appropriate funding.
In the accession process of North Macedonia to the EU, the development of these corridors is considered in Chapter 21 (Trans-European Networks) of Cluster 4 (Green Agenda, Transport and Energy). As a result of the screening of Cluster 4 for North Macedonia, the European Commission assesses that the level of harmonization with the European legislation and the good cooperation of North Macedonia in regional fora such as the Transport Community and the Energy Community provide a sufficient basis for opening the cluster. The EC is monitoring the preparation by North Macedonia of a strategy for harmonization with the acquis in the field of trans-European networks.
Nine European coordinators have been appointed to lead efforts towards the completion of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), a comprehensive infrastructure project aimed at connecting the European Union’s transport systems through rail, road, and inland waterways. The TEN-T coordinator for the Western Balkan – Eastern Mediterranean corridors, Marian-Jean Marinescu, is due to propose a work plan by mid-2026.
Corridor VIII plays a very important role in regional connectivity, as well as from the point of view of NATO interests. It connects the Adriatic Sea with the Black Sea through Albania, North Macedonia and Bulgaria. Corridor X connects Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, North Macedonia and Hungary with Greece and Bulgaria.
In July 2024, at the NATO Summit in Washington, a letter of intent was signed to establish harmonized military mobility corridors between Italy, Albania, North Macedonia and Bulgaria within the framework of Pan-European Transport Corridor VIII, as well as between Greece, Bulgaria and Romania, the aim of which is to contribute to increasing NATO’s deterrence and defense potential, cooperation between the countries in the field of military mobility, strengthening transport connectivity between them as a key factor in stimulating the economic development of the region, as well as to deepening cooperation between NATO and the EU.
The transnational East-West transport axis (Corridor VIII) extends from the port of Bari in Italy through Albania and North Macedonia to the ports of Varna and Burgas in Bulgaria. The central part of this Pan-European corridor passes through North Macedonia – Kichevo, Skopje, Kumanovo, Belyakovce and Kriva Palanka. However, there are no connections at the western end (from Kičevo to the Albanian border) and at the eastern end (from Kumanovo to the Bulgarian border).
The North Macedonian government is currently in talks with Tirana and Sofia to plan the individual sections so that Corridor VIII will connect the Adriatic Sea with the Black Sea. The Bulgarian government has sent the Republic of North Macedonia a draft Agreement for the preparation, construction and operation of a cross-border railway tunnel facility connecting the two countries, as a key element of the construction of the European Transport Corridor VIII. The draft agreement was discussed at a government meeting in Skopje in early February. The two countries will form high-level working groups to start work on this issue.
As for Corridor X, North Macedonia is working on finding financial resources to build a high-speed railway line along the entire corridor, which runs from Athens to Vienna, and expects to have a result for this project soon. This would be a solution for a high-speed railway line of up to 200 km/h for passenger traffic and 120 km/h for freight traffic. This would open up southern European ports to Central Europe.
Skopje has already reached an agreement with Greece to significantly expand the Bogorodica border crossing to 12 lanes. North Macedonia is also in intensive communication with Serbia to create full functionality with a “One Stop Shop”, with a “One Stop Shop” with Kosovo expected by April, and intensive work is underway to expand and modernize the border crossings of Kafasan (to Albania) and Deve Bair (to Bulgaria).
Project activity in the Republic of North Macedonia has raised concerns in Sofia that Bulgaria will be bypassed by the region’s important transport corridors. These concerns are heightened by recent reports of a project for a new large bridge over the Maritsa River (Evros or Meriç) that would link Turkey and Greece between the Ipsala border gate in Turkey and the Kipi border gate in Greece. On the Greek side, the bridge will be part of the Egnatia – Thessaloniki – Kipi motorway section (the A2 motorway, also known as the Egnatia Odos). In Turkey, it will be connected to the Ipsala – Istanbul section.
As a gateway between Europe and Asia, the new “Friendship Bridge” will be an essential node of the future pan-European Corridor IV and Corridor VIII. It could also play a role in various variants of the future India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
Foto:TRACK GEOMETRY DEGRADATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE RAILWAYS – Scientific Figure on ResearchGate. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Pan-European-Corridors-on-the-territory-of-North-Macedonia_
