The Call for the construction of the border crossing "Klepalo" is launched under the new Programme for Cross-border Cooperation between Bulgaria and North Macedonia

The Call for the construction of the border crossing "Klepalo" is launched under the new Programme for Cross-border Cooperation between Bulgaria and North Macedonia.

The Strategic Board of the territorial strategy was also formed

"We are launching the first call under the new Cross-border Cooperation Programme between Bulgaria and North Macedonia. It will be for our strategic project for the construction of the border crossing "Klepalo", with which we will realize the 20-year dream of the residents of the region, at a very important moment in the development of relations between the two countries." This was emphasized by the Deputy Minister for Regional Development and Public Affairs, Desislava Georgieva, at the opening of the first meeting of the Monitoring Committee the Programme Bulgaria-North Macedonia 2021-2027, which was held in Strumica. She added that the construction of the new border crossing will facilitate heavy traffic between the two countries, stimulate the economic development of the region and provide direct access to the Struma highway, which is an important part of the trans-European transport network.

The members of the Monitoring Committee approved the Guidelines for applicants for the strategic project from the Programme for the preparation and construction of the border crossing located between the municipalities of Strumyani and Berovo. More than 10.3 million euros are planned for these activities. Users under it are the Regional Administration Blagoevgrad and the Customs Administration in the Republic of North Macedonia.

The new Programme between Bulgaria and North Macedonia will also support investments in green infrastructure. The goal is to achieve a healthier, aesthetic and functional environment in populated areas through the construction of appropriate green areas. The funds of over 5.2 million euros are under Priority 1 "Greener border region".

During the implementation of Priority 3 "Integrated development of the cross-border region" the specially developed Territorial Strategy will be followed. It will be managed by a Strategic Board, which held its founding meeting in Strumica. At the meeting, the strategy was unanimously approved and the two co-presidents of the board were elected - Ilko Stojanov, mayor of Blagoevgrad and Andrea Zlatkovska, coordinator at the Center for Development of the East Planning Region of the Republic of North Macedonia. The members of the board are the interested parties from the cross-border region who participated in the development of the strategic document - regional and local authorities, professional organizations, representatives of business and the non-governmental sector.

The territorial strategy focuses in two directions: increasing the competitiveness of the local economy through technological transformation and promoting seasonal tourism with intelligent solutions. 15.6 million euros have been allocated for projects in these areas, which represents half of the funds from the program. The opening of the strategy measures will start in the first half of 2023.