Oct 14, 2024 – One of the European Union’s largest investments in the Balkans, the “Corridor 8” project, continues to progress despite political tensions that have stalled cooperation between neighbouring countries. Serving as a vital transport link for NATO and economic growth, the project aims to create a key route connecting Albania, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria.
The Corridor 8 initiative, part of the EU’s broader strategy for regional integration, is more than a mere road construction effort. It is a strategic endeavour designed to enhance trade, improve infrastructure, and strengthen ties among Balkan nations. However, political disputes between North Macedonia and Bulgaria have slowed the project’s momentum.
The 2-hour road between Skopje and the Bulgarian border is predominantly under construction. The final stretch, linking Skopje to Sofia via Rankovce, Kriva Palanka, and Deve Bair, is being transformed into a highway with European standards. The project is being funded through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), which has allocated approximately €14 million in grants and €21 million in loans.
“Corridor 8” connects the port of Varna in Bulgaria with Albania’s port of Durrës, facilitating access from the Black Sea to the Adriatic. This route will also connect to Italy, making it the only EU member state within the corridor. Once complete, the corridor will encompass over 960 km of road and more than 1,270 km of railways, strengthening transport links across the region.
However, historical disputes are holding back the project. Recent changes in government in Skopje have reignited debates with Bulgaria over alleged misallocation of EU funds. Bulgarian officials have accused North Macedonia of redirecting funds intended for Corridor 8 towards another project, Corridor 10, which links Skopje with Belgrade and Budapest. North Macedonia’s Prime Minister, Hristijan Mickoski, from the VRMO-DPMNE party, dismissed these allegations as political, insisting the issue is one of engineering rather than a deliberate attempt to misappropriate funds.
Sources close to the EU have declined to comment on the political disagreements but emphasized the strategic importance of both Corridor 8 and Corridor 10, promising the projects will continue.
The EU’s €6 billion Western Balkans Growth Plan, launched in June 2024, also aims to support regional reforms, with €2 billion allocated in grants and €4 billion in loans. These funds are contingent on governments implementing the necessary reforms. If reforms are delayed, the EU has the option to reallocate funds to more successful states.
The European Union remains one of the largest investors in the region. However, the Balkans continue to grapple with corruption and misuse of funds, a challenge the EU is actively working to address. According to EU officials, anti-corruption mechanisms such as OLAF are in place to ensure that funds are properly allocated and monitored.
Originally conceived in 1991, the Corridor 8 project was delayed for decades due to geopolitical shifts and the onset of Chinese investments in the Balkans. Nearly 30 years later, it has once again become a focus of European investment efforts, with substantial progress made in Albania. While road segments have advanced, railway developments are lagging behind.
In practical terms, the completion of Corridor 8 will mean faster, more efficient transport between the Balkans, enhancing economic opportunities, facilitating movement of goods and people, and bringing the region closer to the EU’s single market philosophy.
