Skopje, 4 December 2025 (MIA) – Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski kicked off his Brussels agenda with a meeting with Friends of Europe, focusing on current political and economic developments in Europe and the Western Balkans. He is set to take part Thursday in the “EU-Western Balkans Summit 2025” organized by the Brussels-based think tank Friends of Europe, and on Friday in the Ministerial Council of the Transport Community.

According to the Ministry of Transport, Nikoloski plans a series of political and economic meetings with senior EU officials and international financial institutions to discuss infrastructure projects in Macedonia.

“Friends of Europe is the largest think tank directly supporting the EU. In 2022, I was honored to be selected as one of Europe’s 40 under 40 by Friends of Europe - a recognition that stays with you for life. Since then, we have kept in contact with them. Their events are highly prestigious and allow for informal discussions,” Nikoloski said.

He said he plans to meet top European diplomats and the European Investment Bank Vice President to discuss major infrastructure projects.

Nikoloski noted that the EIB is funding most of the third section of Corridor 8 linking the railway to Bulgaria.

“Prime ministers, ministers, and the business community are attending, which is very important for Macedonia. We must be here to present our work and arguments. Besides politics, I will focus on economic and infrastructure issues. On Friday, we have a key meeting with European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas to discuss the development of Corridors 10 and 8, including our achievements and upcoming projects,” Nikoloski said.

Nikoloski noted that he will meet with his counterparts from Greece and Bulgaria to discuss linking the two corridors and new projects, including potential joint financing under country’s Growth Plan.

“But also in terms of the major banks that could support this, whether it’s the EIB, with whom I will meet the Vice President, or the EBRD, we aim to jointly develop these projects. Our vision is for Macedonia to become a transport hub in the Balkans. Even though we are landlocked, we have a unique location where Corridors 8 and 10, east-west and north-south, intersect east of Skopje, and this is the main advantage we must deliver for the generations that follow,” Nikoloski said.

At the forum, Nikoloski will speak at the first panel session, titled “Enlargement matters: Europe’s new geopolitical, security and economic frontier,” together with Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Cristina Gherasimov, and former EU Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle.

Friends of Europe’s annual EU-Western Balkans Summit regularly brings together over 150 participants in-person, with a few hundred more joining online from across Europe and beyond. The 2025 edition of the summit will be an occasion to debate the way forward for Europe and the region.

On Friday, Nikoloski will participate in the Ministerial Council of the Transport Community, where discussions will focus on the Western Balkan countries’ progress in transport policy and the implementation of infrastructure projects.

According to the press release, Nikoloski will speak at the Ministerial Council about the country’s transport policies, the progress and implementation of projects on European Transport Corridors 8, 10, and 10d, as well as measures and activities to facilitate trade and transport across the Western Balkans.

Chaired by EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the meeting will bring together Nikoloski, transport ministers, and government officials from Albania, Bulgaria, Ireland, Cyprus, Kosovo, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, and other European nations.

During his visit to Brussels, Nikoloski will additionally hold a series of meetings with European Commission officials.

Photo: Ministry of Transport