Skopje, 9 February 2023 (MIA) – Minister of Transport and Communications Blagoj Bochvarski addressed the Second Union for Mediterranean (UfM) Ministerial Conference on Transport on Thursday, stressing the importance of cooperation between UfM member states in the development of an efficient, interoperable and sustainable infrastructure network, which contributes to an accelerated regional integration.

In his address, Bochvarski placed a special focus on the government’s commitments to an accelerated integration into the European structures, which is a top priority of the government in order to ensure a European future for the country and significant benefits for all citizens.

“There is a strong will in our government regarding the country’s integration into the European structures, as well as a general tendency towards integration in the region. As a response to the growing interdependence of countries and regions, we would have to agree that the interdependence and tendency towards integration are most visible in the area of transport, which by its very nature is a part of international activity. As an EU candidate member, North Macedonia has an obligation to harmonize all its foreign and transport policies with those of the EU,” said Minister Bochvarski.

The Minister summed up the projects implemented by the Ministry of Transport and Communications with the aim of improving infrastructure and transport in the country.

“The expansion and modernization of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) in our country is our priority. We are committed to improving the transport infrastructure and focused on activities aimed at constructing missing links and reconstructing the existing transport network. The ongoing constructions and reconstructions are mainly financed through international financial institutions. We are continuing our efforts to create more efficient transport systems, a more resilient transport infrastructure and services, accelerated deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems and new forms of mobility, strengthening activities in road safety, urban transport, as well as the safety and interoperability in the railway sector and advancing the common aviation area as part of the air transport agreements,” said Minister Bochvarski. ad/nn/