The call for the construction of the border checkpoint “Klepalo” between Bulgaria and North Macedonia is launched

With more than 15 million euro, the programme will increase the competitiveness of the local economy and promote year-round tourism

The call for the construction of a border checkpoint “Klepalo” between Bulgaria and North Macedonia is launched. The opening of the border checkpoint point, connecting Strumyani and Berovo, is a strategic project in the new Bulgaria-North Macedonia Cross-border Cooperation Programme 2021-2027. The decision was taken in the framework of the first meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the programme, which took place in Strumica. It approved the Application Guidelines for the preparation and construction of the border checkpoint, which will be financed with more than 10.3 million euro from the programme. The beneficiaries are the Regional Administration in Blagoevgrad and the Customs Office in the Republic of North Macedonia.

 ”This is actually the first call for applications for the programme. We will realise a 20-year dream of the region’s residents, and at a very important moment in the development of relations between the two countries,” said Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Desislava Georgieva, who co-chaired the meeting. She added that the construction of the new border checkpoint will facilitate the busy traffic between the two countries, boost the economic development of the region and provide direct access to the Struma motorway, which is an important part of the trans-European transport network.

The programme will also support investment in green infrastructure to achieve a healthier, more aesthetic and functional environment in settlements through the creation of appropriate green spaces. More than EUR 5.2 million is earmarked for this purpose under Priority 1 “A greener cross-border region”.

The implementation of Priority 3 “Integrated development of the cross-border region” will follow the specially developed Territorial Strategy. It will be managed by a Steering Board, which held its inaugural meeting in Strumica. During the meeting, the strategy was unanimously approved and the two co-chairs of the Board were elected - Ilko Stoyanov, Mayor of Blagoevgrad and Andrea Zlatkova, Coordinator at the Eastern Region Development Planning Centre of the Republic of North Macedonia. Members of the board are stakeholders from the cross-border region who have been involved in the elaboration of the strategic document - regional and local authorities, professional organizations, representatives of the business and NGO sector.

The territorial strategy focuses on two areas: increasing the competitiveness of the local economy through technological transformation and promoting year-round tourism with smart solutions. Projects in these areas have been allocated €15.6 million, representing half of the programme’s funding. The opening of measures under the strategy will start in the first half of 2023.