Ivaylo Moskovski: EUR 4,320 billion needed to guarantee railway connectivity between Bulgaria and the Western Balkans

Investments amounting to EUR 4,320 billion are needed for the construction of all priority railway lines by 2030, announced the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Ivaylo Moskovski during a discussion on transport projects in the Western Balkans. The event is organized by Ivaylo Moskovski and is part of today's Western Balkans - European Union Summit. The Ministerial meeting was attended by the Transport Ministers of Macedonia and Kosovo, a State Secretary from Montenegro, as well as representatives of the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, the Regional Cooperation Council. Nikolay Nankov, Lilyana Pavlova, President Rosen Plevneliev, Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha and others participated in the meeting on the Bulgarian side.

Minister Moskovski said in his address that EUR 4.147 billion of the funds would be needed for the "core" TEN-T network projects and the remaining EUR 173 million would be used for the modernization of Karnobat-Sindel railway line, which is 123 km. long and is part of the "comprehensive" railway network. According to him, this route is of great importance as it connects the two biggest sea ports of Varna and Bourgas. Ivaylo Moskovski pointed out that the most complicated section and therefore the most expensive one is Vidin - Sofia railway line with the indicative value of the investments there being EUR 2.31 billion. The Minister added that another important railway line, which is part of the Eastern/Mediterranean Corridor, is Sofia - Kulata with a value of EUR 1.22 billion.

In the direction to Serbia, Ivaylo Moskovski presented the project for the modernization of Voluyak - Dragoman - Serbian border railway line, which is also part of the "core" TEN-T network and is identified by the EU Council as a priority cross-border section. He pointed out that investments of EUR 132 million are needed for the realization of the project.

The Minister announced that for the realization of the railway connectivity with Macedonia a Technical assistance project for the modernization of Sofia-Pernik-Radomir-Gyueshevo-Macedonian border railway line has already been launched. The indicative value for the construction of Radomir - Gyueshevo - Macedonian border railway line is EUR 477 million.

Minister Ivaylo Moskovski noted that these investments are not risky and that the projects will contribute significantly to the security and development of the region.