December 8 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria and North Macedonia have launched a call for proposals under a 10.3 million euro ($10.8 million) EU grant mechanism for the construction of a border checkpoint, the Bulgarian regional development ministry said on Thursday.
The Klepalo border checkpoint, to be located between the village of Strumyani in Bulgaria and the town of Berovo in North Macedonia, will ease heavy cross-border traffic, stimulate the cross-border region's economic development and ensure access to the southwestern Struma motorway, which Bulgaria is building to Greece, the regional development ministry said in a statement.
The programme has also earmarked over 5.2 million euro to encourage investments in green infrastructure to improve the green spaces in populated areas on both sides of the border.
Bulgaria and North Macedonia share three border checkpoints - Stanke Lisichkovo, Guyeshevo and Zlatarevo.
The project is financed under the Interreg VI-A IPA Bulgaria-North Macedonia cross-border cooperation programme for the 2021-2027 period.
The cross-border strategy envisages funding of 15.6 million euro to boost the competitiveness of the local economy through technological improvements and to develop smart solutions to develop local tourism. Calls for proposals for projects under the strategy will be accepted starting from the first half of 2023, the ministry said.
The EU Commission is prioritising the development of the TEN-T transport corridor through the region. Improving connectivity and border access is seen to facilitate further integration of Western Balkan countries into EU policies, programmes and markets in view of the proposed EU enlargement and as part of the solution to improve illegal migrant traffic through the region.
($ = 0.9518 euro)