27.07.2023
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel attended the quadrilateral ministerial in Brindisi dedicated to regional cooperation and the construction of European Corridor VIII. The meeting that was hosted by Italy was joined by the Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy Antonio Tajani, and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Albania Olta Xhacka and of the Republic of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani.
“Transport connectivity is key to regional cooperation, economic development and the attraction of foreign investment. Joint and coordinated efforts are needed to build the infrastructure of Corridor VIII. It is a project of strategic importance for Bulgaria, Italy, the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania, as it helps bring the Western Balkans closer to the European Union and promotes cooperation between the countries and the people in the region,” Mariya Gabriel stated.
Corridor VIII is an important transport infrastructure with seaports and river ports, airports, motorways and railways along the route. The Corridor connects the Bulgarian Black Sea ports Varna and Bourgas with the south Italian seaports Bari and Brindisi as it goes via Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia. Some 52% of the road infrastructure is in the Bulgarian territory. The goal is to improve European and regional infrastructure connectivity.
The ministers emphasized the importance of the initiative to integrate the Western Balkans into the European Union. Stress was laid on joint and coordinated efforts to meet the challenges as caused by the migration flows. Minister Mariya Gabriel thanked Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani for the strong support for Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen without any further delay.
“The construction of Corridor VIII will promote trade and business, good neighbor relations, economic growth and security. The Corridor will offer new opportunities to young people and will help develop innovative hubs that will turn the region into a place for the development of breakthrough technologies and new-generation entrepreneurship,” the Deputy Prime Minister stated further.
An important outcome of today’s discussion was the decision about the following quadrilateral meetings: an annual political meeting, an annual business forum, a meeting of the important cities along the route of the project and a regular quadrilateral discussion within the NATO Summits.
