We continue to develop the main corridors from the Trans-European Transport Network and the adjacent connections, said the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Ivaylo Moskovski at the conference “Strategic infrastructure and investments 2015 Bulgaria and the West Balkans”. Minister Moskovski opened the third panel of the conference, which focuses on the development of transport and transport infrastructure.

“We are working towards the absorption of the whole financial resource under OP Transport 2007-2013 until the end of the year and in the meantime we are initiating the projects in the new programing period”, said minister Moskovski. “The project readiness of all the beneficiaries in this programing period is greater than the resource we have”, said Minister Moskovski.

Concerning the railway infrastructure, in the new programming period we will continue the development of the line Septemvri – Plovdiv, as well as the connection to the Serbian border that we started under OPT, said the Minister. He added that the main priority in the road sector is the completion of Struma highway that is to be fully constructed by the end of the programing period. “Provided there are funds left following the tender procedures for the highway to the Greek border, they will be invested in Hemus highway and the tunnel under Shipka Peak”, explained the Minister.

“We aim at utilizing the additional financial instruments that the European Commission provides”. Under Connecting Europe Facility we have the financial resource of 406 million Euros and currently we are working on the railway lines Vidin – Medkovets and Dragoman – Sofia – Elin Pelin, including part of Sofia railway hub. The Minister added that at the moment they are investigating the possibilities for applying or the Junker plan, which sets as a condition the return of expenses of the projects.