Bulgaria and North Macedonia Sign Official Agreement for First Railway Border Crossing
Bulgaria and North Macedonia Sign Official Agreement for First Railway Border Crossing
Bulgaria and North Macedonia have taken a historic step to create the first railway border crossing between the two nations. An agreement signed on November 10, 2025, by the transport ministers of both countries envisages the construction of a new border tunnel passing beneath Deve Bair mountain. The project is being regarded as a "historic turning point" for the completion of Corridor VIII, one of the Western Balkans' most important transport corridors.
According to a statement by Bulgaria's Ministry of Transport, the agreement is of strategic importance in that it will strengthen regional connectivity, increase logistics capacity, and bind the two countries more tightly to European transport systems. Sofia has described the Deve Bair tunnel as "the most concrete step yet taken toward finally completing the missing link of Corridor VIII."
Why is Corridor VIII critical?
Corridor VIII is defined as a multimodal transport backbone that stretches from Albania through North Macedonia to Bulgaria, with the aim of linking the Adriatic Sea to the Black Sea. This corridor has long been viewed as a priority for the integration of the European Union with Western Balkan countries.
Once at full capacity, the corridor will:
reduce freight transportation costs in the region,
accelerate trade flows between Balkan countries,
offer a new strategic route to access EU markets,
strengthen the integration of North Macedonia and Bulgaria with the TEN-T network.
However, the absence of any railway connection at the Macedonia–Bulgaria border has been viewed as one of the most significant infrastructure gaps preventing the completion of the corridor.
The Deve Bair tunnel project
The new agreement covers the joint construction of the Deve Bair railway tunnel, which will be central to the border crossing. Project details include:
technical feasibility studies of the tunnel,
joint financing models,
environmental impact assessments,
harmonization of railway lines in both countries
are included.
Upon completion of the tunnel, travel time on the Sofia–Skopje line is expected to be significantly reduced, and freight and passenger transportation is expected to be conducted on a regular and high-capacity basis.
Regional cooperation and EU support
The EU has long supported Corridor VIII as a priority project for economic integration in the Balkans. Brussels is providing funding to both countries' infrastructure modernization programs and has described this agreement as "an important step forward."
Although railway modernization in the Balkans has progressed slowly over the years, projects have gained momentum particularly since late 2023 with the EU accelerating its investment pace. The Deve Bair tunnel is becoming one of North Macedonia's largest transport investments due to its role in connecting the country's western and eastern railway corridors.
Historical context
Although road-based border crossings exist between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, no railway connection has ever been established between the two countries. For this reason, the project is being interpreted not only as economically significant but also as a symbol of political rapprochement and mutual confidence.
The Bulgarian Ministry statement emphasized this point in particular:
"The Deve Bair tunnel is a historic step toward completing Corridor VIII and advancing regional integration."
Key Points:
Bulgaria and North Macedonia signed an agreement for the first railway border crossing, the Deve Bair tunnel.
The project is of critical importance for the completion of Corridor VIII.
The tunnel will reduce travel time on the Skopje–Sofia line and accelerate freight transportation.
The EU supports the project as a strategic priority for regional integration.
A railway connection will be established between the two countries for the first time in history.
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