Skopje, 7 November 2025 (MIA) - France has welcomed the agreement on construction of a Corridor VIII cross-border railway tunnel between North Macedonia and Bulgaria signed on Thursday by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski and his Bulgarian counterpart Grozdan Karadjov at the Gyueshevo railway station, in the attendance of representatives of the European Commission, NATO, the United States, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the World Bank.  

French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux in a statement on Thursday which was published by the French Embassy in Skopje on Friday, pointed out that this signing demonstrates the commitment of the two countries to regional integration and security in the Balkans.

"France welcomes today's signing of the agreement between Bulgaria and North Macedonia for the construction of a cross-border railway tunnel. This strategic infrastructure project is part of the development of the Trans-European Corridor VIII, linking the Adriatic and Black Seas. This signing demonstrates the commitment of Bulgaria and North Macedonia to regional integration and the security in the Balkans," said Confavreux. 

He added that this agreement demonstrates the ability of "our two allies to find the path to a confident and fruitful dialogue, which France fully supports, particularly in view of the accession of North Macedonia and the Western Balkans to the European Union".

North Macedonia and Bulgaria have defined activities and shared obligations for the construction of the Corridor VIII cross-border railway tunnel with the agreement signed on Thursday.  

The designed length of the tunnel is approximately 2.4 kilometers, with 1.189,30 meters on Macedonian territory and 1.193,70 meters on Bulgarian territory. 

Nikoloski and Karadjov on Thursday stressed the importance of the connection, and European Commission representatives expressed satisfaction that both sides are fulfilling what has been agreed on the project at the July meeting in Brussels, noting that they expect timely implementation.

The European Union has also welcomed yesterday's signing of the agreement. European Council President António Costa posted on X that the new railway would boost regional prosperity and enhance common security.

"I welcome the signing of the Corridor 8 cross-border tunnel agreement between Bulgaria and North Macedonia - a big step forward in the cooperation between the two countries and promotes good neighbourly relations. Besides developing bilateral bonds, the new railway will boost regional prosperity, and enhance our common security," said Costa.

Photo: MIA archive