The European Union is providing a 2.8 million euro ($3.0 million) grant for the development of a joint border railway station between North Macedonia and Serbia in an effort to improve regional connectivity and cooperation, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said.
The grant agreement was signed in Skopje on Wednesday. The funds are provided through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) and will finance construction and technical assistance, the EBRD said in a statement.
The grant complements a 5 million loan for the project already provided by the EBRD, the statement read.
The joint border crossing will be located in North Macedonia’s Tabanovce on the Corridor X rail route, which is part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) extension to the Western Balkans region. The project aims to revamp the railway station’s existing buildings in line with energy efficient standards and equipping them with photovoltaic panels.
“Once in use, the joint station will be shared by staff from both countries, helping optimise border customs control procedures and reducing waiting times, travel for people and goods. This will lead to better regional connectivity and integration on Corridor X,” the EBRD noted.
North Macedonia’s transport minister Aleksandar Nikoloski said he hopes the one-stop-shop crossing will pave the way for restoring regular passenger rail service between Skopje and Belgrade, which will require efforts from both sides.
Corridor X is the country’s main economic artery, improving trade, job creation, and transit efficiency while strengthening its appeal as a transport hub, Nikoloski said.
The EBRD said it has so far invested over 340 million euro in North Macedonia’s railway sector alone.
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