“We are working on the signing of agreements in the field of maritime and railway transport with Serbia”, announced the Minister of Transport, information Technology and Communications Ivaylo Moskovski following the meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure of Serbia Zorana Mihajlovic. The Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Nikolay Nankov also attended the meeting.
Among the main topics of discussion was the connectivity and integration of the West Balkans with the EU, which is one of the priorities of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU. The meeting also discussed reduction of roaming prices between the two states as well as concession procedures for the airports in Sofia and Belgrade.
“Bulgaria is actively working to build the road and railway connection between Sofia and Kalotina”, indicated Minister Moskovski. There is an ongoing tender for the railway section Sofia – Voluyak, financed under Connecting Europe Facility, he added. Minister Moskovski recalled there is a technical project ready for the railway line from Voluyak to Dragoman and tenders are to be announced at the beginning of 2019 the latest. “Unless there are any significant delays with the tenders, in three years there will be a railway connection and system interoperability between Bulgaria and Serbia”, he said.
Deputy PM Zorana Mihajlovic announced that the section to the Bulgarian border is a priority for their country as well and financing is already provided for the electrification of the railway line from Nish to Kalotina.
Expert talks between the two parties are to take place to discuss the Agreement for cross-border railway traffic between Bulgaria and Serbia.
Minister Nikolay Nankov informed his Serbian counterpart that the Bulgarian party has initiated tenders for the road section from Sofia to Kalotina and the actual construction works in the area is about to start in 2018.
