Skopje, 10 May 2023 (MIA) - The government at its Wednesday’s session reviewed and adopted report on annex to the decision of the European Commission, on signing the "High-level Understanding between the European Union and the Republic of North Macedonia, on the indicative maps of the Trans-European transport network in the Republic of North Macedonia."

The government also authorized the Minister of Transport and Communications, Blagoj Bochvarski, to sign the document, next week in Montenegro.

At the meeting, at which the annex between North Macedonia and the EU will be signed, in addition to Minister Bocvarski, the presence of all ministers of transport in the region, as well as representatives of the Transport Community and the European Commission, is expected, and such an annex will be signed between all countries from the region and the European Commission, the government said in a press release.

“By signing of this annex, as told by the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Corridor 8 becomes part of the map of the main corridors of the Western Balkans, within the framework of the expansion of the trans-European transport networks of the European Union. This has been made possible after the European Union accepted the request of North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Italy and Albania for Corridor 8 to enter the network of main corridors in the region and in Europe, recognizing the connection with Corridor 8 of importance for both North Macedonia and the region and for the European Union,” reads the press release.

The purpose of the development of the Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T) is to ensure uninterrupted, sustainable and efficient transport across the Union, strengthening social, economic and territorial unity.

After the European Commission in December 2021 proposed a revision, in order to include the priorities of the Green Agenda, sustainable and smart mobility strategy and the strategy for connectivity, the decision was made to extend the indicative maps of TEN-T to specific neighboring countries, including of the Western Balkans region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro).

Indicative maps of trans-European transport network extended to North Macedonia aim to ensure the coherence between the trans-European transport network of the Union and the transport network of North Macedonia; aim to promote adequate planning and development of sustainable and resource efficient transport connectivity between the Union and North Macedonia; facilitate the identification of common infrastructure priorities between the Union and North Macedonia; aim to facilitate the development of the existing transport network, the government said in a press release.