Minister Nikolay Nankov: Big Cross-Border Projects Will Help for the Development of Business and Tourism

The Minister of Regional Development and Public Works presented the strategic projects during the 10^th Conference on Transport Infrastructure

Solely in a few months Bulgaria will be faced by an enormous challenge – the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which will place not only our country but also the entire region in the limelight. This is why along with the global question about the future of united Europe and the cohesion policy after 2020, the European integration of the Western Balkans, the security and the connexity amongst the countries within the region is a subject-matter of significance for us. This was commented today by the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Nikolay Nankov at his participation in the Tenth National Conference on Transport Infrastructure with international participation.

He explained that in spite of the efforts made by a number of governments in the last more than 20 years, some important transport, energy and telecommunication connections between Bulgaria and the neighboring countries, between the Balkans and the region of Southeastern Europe are still missing. This is why our joint efforts with all the participants in the process should be directed at the realization of some big cross-border projects of European dimensions, which will render assistance to the economic prosperity and the stability of the Balkans in the more and more dynamic and insecure world, as well as to the development of business and tourism, Nankov was categorical. According to his words, these projects will provide possibility for us to make use of our geo-strategic situation for the first time and reminded that five of the ten European transport corridors pass through the territory of our country, and this should be taken into account by all the participants in the process for formation of the significant policies.

The Minister paid attention that specific steps are already made in this direction and showed as an example the Memorandum signed with Greece for the construction of a speed railway corridor connecting the Danube River, the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea, which will provide direct connection with the Mediterranean Sea through our territory and for which financing will be sought from the European Fund for Strategic Investments known as the Juncker Plan.

A second significant step to the provision of the transportation connexity is the discussed at the joint meeting between the Governments of Bulgaria and Rumania question for the construction of a third bridge over the Danube River, a railway line and a speed road between Nikopol – Turnu Magurele and a motorway with length 200 km between Konstanta, Varna and Burgas, Nankov indicated. He presented the three possible locations of the future facility and announced that steps were undertaken for the creation of a joint project company, which should implement the projects through concession. The construction of new bridge facilities over the Danube River and the development of the internal connections from the supporting corridors to them will open additional possibilities both for international transportation of goods and services and for the economic revival of Northern Bulgaria and for the development of tourism on our Black Seaside, the Minister indicated.

The completion of Struma Motorway is a strategic project within the context of the connexity between the states within the region, because it is a part of transport corridor 4 – the only one which passes through a territory solely of member-states of the EU, Nankov commented. Year 2018 will be critical for the construction of the most difficult section of a project, he indicated and reminded the taken up yesterday positive standpoint under EIA of the Project. Up to the month of May 2019 there should be a Construction Permit for the section through Kresna Gorge in conformity with the ratified eastern variant Г 10,50 and a selected builder aimed at having a completed motorway in 2023, the Minister declared.

Nikolay Nankov also said that the underestimated so far section from Kalotina to Sofia Ring Road will remain the only section without a built up motorway or a speed road between London and Teheran, after the motorway from Niš through Pirot to Tsaribrod in Serbia is already in its last phase. A financial resource at the value of 40 million BGN was partially provided for the project for modernization of the route in conformity with the Mechanism “Connected Europe”, which, however, is insufficient, the Minister indicated and reminded that on Wednesday the Government passed a resolution to provide cо-financing for the remaining part of the resource. The public procurements for the most difficult part of the Project have already started up – from Kalotina to Dragoman and from there to Slivnitsa so that this important transport corridor could be built up as a speed route within the framework of the next three years.

The construction of Hemus Motorway is also an indisputable priority of the Government, the Regional Minister also indicated and informed that another 75 km of it in the sections Yablanitsa - Boaza, Boaza – the fork, Lovech – Pleven and Belokopitovo – Buhovtsi will be in process of execution next year. In parallel with this as early as this year the design of the remaining part of the motorway will start up so that it could be completed in the next 3,5 – 4 years, which will result in the reduction of the economic disproportions between Northern and Southern Bulgaria, Nikolay Nankov commented. The speed road Vidin – Botevgrad is also amongst the priority projects, which will give a breath of air and will revive the northwest and will fully develop the potential of Danube Bridge 2, will give final meaning to the transit passing through Bulgaria along transport corridor No 4. Motorway Ruse – Veliko Tarnovo is another project also of priority, a part of the new corridor North – South.

According to a preliminary evaluation, the needed funds for construction of priority new routes are about 8 billion BGN, and 4 billion BGN are needed for the improvement of the existing roads, of which about 6000 km are in a poor and very poor condition as of this time, Minister Nankov announced. He indicated that after 2020 the situation with finding financing with regard to the European funds will get complicated, the cohesion policy of the EU will undergo changes and grants will yield their place to the so called “recycled” money. Public-private partnerships are also possible, according to his words.

Our objective and ambition are to create a sustainable from the financial point of view road sector, which should rely on its own forces and generate sufficient resources. The toll system will not be a panacea but will be the main solution for the deficit of financing, Nikolay Nankov commented. It will provide possibility for generating 1-1,2 billion BGN on an annual basis and for the realization of the strategic projects.

The quality of execution in conformity with the modern European norms for the safety of the road infrastructure is of significance, the Regional Minister also said and indicated that the updating of the norms for its design are a good step, Minister Nankov also commented.