Activities and perspectives

of Corridor VIII

The 3° Steering Committee, held in Tirana on 27th May 2005

approved Secretariat’s PLAN OF STUDIES (2005-2006)

PRIORITY SECTORS FOR STUDIES AND PROJECTS

• Railroads: Cross-border areas, missing links, rehabilitation

and upgrading of existing alignment

• Roads: Cross-border areas, bottlenecks, maintenance and

upgrading of existing alignment

• Ports, Intermodality and Logistics: Ports infrastructures,

Intermodality and Logistic organization along the Corridor

CORRIDOR VIII

PRE-FEASIBILITY STUDY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RAILWAY AXIS

Rail Working Group

1st Study (Co-financed by CEI)

IDENTIFICATION OF THE

DURRES-SKOPJE-SOFIA (DSS) RAIL PROJECT

Basic hypotheses:

1) Rail management of the Durres-Skopje-Sofia section could break even with the

hypothesis of transporting 1.5-2 million tons of freight for an average distance of 500 km

Passenger traffic does not add that much, but the line will be also used for this purpose

2) Under these hypotheses, the preliminary financial evaluations show

an encouraging scenario

3) We must also consider that this DSS Rail Project will have a huge impact

on the socio-economic integration in the South Balkans, as well as important

economic impacts on national economies; economic return on investment should be

somewhat two times higher than financial return.

IDENTIFICATION OF DSS RAIL PROJECT

Total investment:

about 1.200 € million total investment and about 15 years to full completion;

It should be deployed in phases. Three phases are proposed.

1ST PHASE: Starting the construction of the missing links

and opening rail communication between Southern Adriatic and Balkan Region.

► Construction of the missing link Lin-Struga (Albanian-fYR Macedonia cross-border),

► Completing the construction of the section Beliakovci-Kriva Palanka (Macedonia- Bulgaria cross-border)

► Rehabilitating Albanian section Durres-Lin to minimum safety standard,

► Construction of two intermodal terminals in Struga (Macedonia) and in Radomir or Gujeshevo (Bulgaria);

2ND PHASE: completing the construction of Rail Corridor VIII Missing Links.

► Completion of the 2 missing links:

- Struga-Kičevo (FYR Macedonia)

- Kriva Palanka-Gujeshevo (FYR Macedonia-Bulgaria cross-border).

► Construction of an Intermodal Terminal in Skopje

3RD PHASE: achieving an efficient rail Corridor VIII

pursuant to European standard parameters.

► Investing on existing sections requiring upgrading.

Corridor VIII Secretariat

DSS

RAIL PROJECT:

Estimated

Investments

by Country

1) Member Countries approve the proposed Coordinated Rail Project Durres-Skopje-Sofia (DSS Rail Project)

and support the initiative at a political level. In particular:

a) Governments will officially support the DSS Rail project;

b) The Project will be jointly presented to EC and IFIs, so as to finance Feasibility, Design and Implementation.

2) Member Countries appoint a permanent Coordination Technical Committee, composed by technical

representatives of the interested Countries, in order to assure the promotion, coordination and implementation

of DSS Rail Project.

3) Member Countries jointly take initiative to promote a full feasibility study on the DSS Rail Project,

to be developed according to international standards as a first step towards its implementation.

4) The implementation of this Project be approached by phases, as indicated in this Study. In their national

planning activities and allocation of financial resources related to the specific content of the Project,

Member Countries will take into account the priorities jointly identified in the DSS Rail Project.

5) A short term program (Crash Program) be jointly defined among the member Countries in order to start the

implementation between the approval and the operational beginning of the DSS Rail Project.

6) Governments, European Commission and IFIs will assign priority to single projects that will be submitted

for financing in the frame of the DSS Rail Project, when defining cooperation and financing programs

with the concerned Countries.

7) Specific technical-political Protocols be signed by concerned Countries and parties, confirming the

common commitment to implement the DSS Rail Project.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1st Option: Starting the implementation of the initiatives envisaged in the 1st Phase of the

DSS Rail Project (total estimated investment cost: 234 M € + planning and tendering costs)

1) Starting Rail connection between South Adriatic Ports and fYR Macedonia (135 M €)

► Rehabilitating Albanian section Durres-Lin to minimum safety standard

► Construction of missing link Lin-Struga (Albania-fYR Macedonia cross-border)

► Construction of an intermodal terminal in Struga (fYR Macedonia)

2) Starting Rail connection between fYR Macedonia and Bulgaria (99 M €)

► Completing the construction of the section Beliakovci-Kriva Palanka (Km. 66)

(fYR Macedonia - Bulgaria cross-border)

► Construction of an intermodal terminal in Radomir or Gujeshevo (Bulgaria);

Implementation of priority projects

2 Possible options (to be evaluated):

2nd Option: Launching two comprehensive cross-border projects,

as envisaged in the 1st and 2ndPhases of the DSS Rail Project:

(total investment cost: 479 M € + planning and tendering costs)

1) Completing Rail connection between South Adriatic Ports and fYR Macedonia (265 M €)

► Rehabilitating Albanian section Durres-Lin to minimum safety standard

► Construction of missing link Lin-Struga (Albania-fYR Macedonia cross-border)

► Construction of an intermodal terminal in Struga (fYR Macedonia)

► Construction of the new section Struga-Kicevo (fYR Macedonia)

2) Completing Rail connection between fYR Macedonia and Bulgaria (214 M €)

► Completing the construction of the section Beliakovci-Kriva Palanka (Km. 66)

► Construction of the missing link Kriva Palanka (km.66) - Gujeshevo

(fYR Macedonia - Bulgaria cross-border)

► Construction of an intermodal terminal in Radomir or Gujeshevo (Bulgaria);

Implementation of priority projects

2 Possible options (to be evaluated):

Current pre-accession support has been delivered through a number of different instruments, namely

Phare, ISPA, SAPARD and the Turkey pre-accession instrument. EC funding for the Western Balkans

has been delivered through the CARDS programme.

IPA replaces all these instruments as it brings together for the first time, into a single framework,

assistance to candidate countries and potential candidate countries. It is the new financial instrument

for all pre-accession activities funded by the European Commission as of 1 January 2007.

IPA five components: - transition assistance and institution building;

- cross-border cooperation;

- regional development;

- human resources development; and

- rural development.

Possible financing: DG Enlargement: IPA

Pre-acc. Assistance envelopes, in Є Million 2007 2008 2009

Croatia 138.5 146.0 151.2

Former Yugoslav Rep. of Macedonia 58.5 70.2 81.8

Turkey 497.2 538.7 566.4

Albania 61.0 70.7 81.2

Bosnia and Herzegovina 62.1 74.8 89.1

Montenegro 31.4 32.6 33.3

Serbia 186.7 190.9 194.8

Kosovo 63.3 64.7 66.1

Pre-Accession assistance 2007-2009 under Multi-annual Institutional Financial Framework

Pan-European Corridors

within eligible area:

• Corridor IV

• Corridor V

• Corridor VII

• Corridor VIII

• Corridor IX

• Corridor X

Transnationat Axes

within eligible ares:

• South Eastern Axis

• Motorways of the Sea

SEE 2007-2013 Operative Plan:

Area of interest

(preparation ongoing, operational: 2008)

The Transnational Cooperation Programme South East

Europe (SEE) is part of the new Objective European

Territorial Cooperation1 legally based on Article 7 of the

General Regulation (Reg. (EC) No 1083/2006, 11 July 2006).

The Objective becomes now a target of its own on an equal

footing with the other Objectives “Convergence” and “Regional

Competitiveness and Employment” will substitute the

Community Initiative INTERREG 2000-2006.

The programme is also a component in the framework of

Pre-Accession Assistance and European Neighbourhood

Policy strengthening ties with partners on both sides of EU

borders.

Transnational Cooperation Programme

South East Europe (SEE)

Possible financing: DG Regio

European Territorial Cooperation 2007-2013

2nd Study (Co-financed by CEI):

Motorways Working Group

CORRIDOR VIII ROADS SYSTEM

The study is carried out in two phases:

to perform an up-to-date assessment of the road system in terms of:

• roads conditions and characteristics;

• implementation project already defined or undertaken by national road agencies;

• medium and long term future implementation project foreseen by national road agencies;

• existing national and international studies and analysis performed on the subject

• the identification of specific urgent issues along the alignment of Corridor VIII

• to define a number of short term priority projects finalised to quickly putting into operation the road system of the corridor relevant to infrastructural and logistic issues.

PHASE 1 (n. 3 meetings, completed March 2007), with the main objective

PHASE 2 (n. 2 meetings, January - March 2008) with the objective

of reaching a general agreement among participating countries on

the definition of a “completion strategy” of the Road Corridor VIII

and the identification of possible completion macro-phases (to be programmed

on the basis of future specific detailed technical and economical analyses)

A multinational Working Group on Corridor VIII road system was established

under the general coordination of the Secretariat and

with the Technical coordination of ANAS (Italian National Road Agency)

3rd STUDY ON CORRIDOR VIII

PORTS AND LOGISTICS

• The Study will be finalized to improve intermodality and logistics between Corridor VIII

ports and to speed up custom procedures and transit through ports border crossings.

• The Port Working Group (PWG) will be composed by a representative from each

Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport of participating Countries and a representative

from Port Authorities of Bari, Brindisi, Durres, Vlora, Varna, Burgas.

• The Study is co-financed by CEI.

• The Study will be started in January 2008.

Secretariat is currently participating, on behalf of Italian Ministry of Infrastructure, in the

Interreg“MAP”project, led by Bari Port Authority, including the Ports of Bari, Durres and Bar.

The results of these exercises appear to be particularly relevant because:

1. They have been conducted by Multinational Working Groups, composed of

high level Representatives of Member Countries, guaranteeing at the same time

internal technical consistency and consistency with the national transport Plans and

Programs. The result has been a very fruitful multinational cooperation exercise.

2. For the first time a great quantity of information and projects from different

Countries were put in a consistent frame focusing on Corridor VIII alignment,

thus allowing to have a more comprehensive perspective within which the single

national projects acquire a general consistent framework.

3. From these Studies, the case for Corridor VIII gains a new interest from the

financial and economic point of view. Full development of Corridor VIII can contribute to

pursue the general objectives of stabilization and integration of Southern Balkans,

as an integral component of South Eastern European Transnational Axis.

RELEVANCE OF THE STUDIES

1 MAY 2004: EU 25

A NEW TRANSPORT POLICY

TO EXTEND THE MAJOR TRANS-

EUROPEAN TRANSPORT AXES TO

THE NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

AND REGIONS

RAPIDLY CHANGING REGIONAL PLANNING SCENARIOS

Main regional planning agencies

for the transport network in the Balkan Region

• ECMT-TINA Transport Infrastructure Needs Assessment (1999)

• ECMT-TIRS Transport Infrastructure Study in Balkans (2002)

• HLG-1 (Van Miert) “Report On Trans-europeanTransport Network (2003)

• REBIS Regional Balkans Infrastructure Study (2003)

• TPPF Transport Project Preparation Facility in the Balkan Region (2004)

• TTFSE I Trade and Transport Facilitation in Southeast Europe (2000-05)

• TTFSE II Trade and Transport Facilitation in Southeast Europe (2005)

• HLG-2 (De Palacio) “Networks for Peace and Development (2005)

• UNECE “TER and TEM Master Plan” (2006)

• SEETO “South East Europe Core Regional Network Development Plan

Five Year Multi-Annual Plan 2008 to 2012” (October 2007)

• TRANS-EUROPEAN NETWORKS : TOWARD AND INTEGRATED APPROACH

Commission Staff Working Document: Communication from the Commission

(March 2007)

5 Transnational Axes:

• Motorways of the Sea

• Northern Axis

• Central Axis

• South Eastern Axis

• South Western Axis

November 2005:

The new strategic scenario defined by the HLG (Loyola de Palacio)

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR ENERGY AND TRANSPORT

DIRECTORATE B - Transeuropean Networks Energy & Transport

11th meeting of Pan-European Transport Corridors and Areas Co-ordinators Group 24October 2007, Brussels

Issues related to the extension of major axes of the TEN-T network to the neighbouring

countries and future methods of coordination and integration of existing structures

Working Groups

- W1: "Differences of approach inside and outside the EU" (Mr W. Zarnoch )

- W2: " Optimum geographical coverage " (Mr H.Adelsberger )

- W3: " Promotion of non-infrastructure measures" (Mr J. Papajewski )

- W4: " Strengthening of cooperation and monitoring" (by Mr G.Patsiavos )

INTEGRATION OF PAN-EUROPEAN CORRIDORS INTO TRANS-NATIONAL AXES

Since EU enlargement, Pan-European Corridors are at their greater parts, i.e. in EU member

countries, covered by the TEN‘s.

Nevertheless, they still play an important role as platforms for exchange of information, for

common lobbying and as brand names for identification.

A great part of the Pan-European Corridors have been defined priority TEN axes acc. to TEN

Guidelines 884/2004.

In the context with the new major Trans-National Axes they have important functions linking

them with the TEN‘s and integrating also those EU member countries which are not directly

affected by the Tran-National Axes.

Example: South-Eastern Axis:the European section is composed from or linked with parts of

Pan-European Corridors IV, V, VII, VIII, IX and X.

It is therefore proposed to admit also relevant Corridor administrations to the steering

committees of the Trans-National Axes.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR ENERGY AND TRANSPORT

DIRECTORATE B - Transeuropean Networks Energy & Transport

11th meeting of the Pan-European Transport Corridors and Areas Co-ordinators Group

24October 2007, Brussels

Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Innovation und Technologie Source:

Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Innovation und Technologie Source:

PROPOSAL FOR SUBDIVISION OF AXES

It is proposed to subdivide the axes (and steering committees) with more

than 10 countries involved:

according to geographical, cultural, economic and political differences

in the area (=> different speeds of implementation),

to achieve working groups

at operable sizes.

Example:

South-Eastern Axis:

2 subgoups:

- SE-European Section

- Middle East Section

Alternative:

- Subdivision

into 4 subgroups

SEETO Five Year Multi Annual Plan 2008-2012

October 2007

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, fYR Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, and the United Nations

Mission in Kosovo

SEETO

Multi Annual Plan

2008-2012

Priority Projects

SOUTH-EAST EUROPE TRANSPORT OBSERVATORY

Third Annual Meeting of Ministers on the Development of the

South East Europe Core Regional Transport Network 4 December 2007 - Tirana

• Resolution of the 2007 Meeting of Ministers

• Addendum on the Memorandum of Understanding concerning the

SEE Railway Transport Area OBJECTIVES

1: Effective regulatory institutions for the rail sector

2: Separation, management independence, market orientation

3: Access to the market, interoperability and railway safety

4: Financial stability and transparency

5: Facilitate border crossing

6: Social dimension and social dialogue

Commission Staff Working Document: Communication from the Commission

TRANS-EUROPEAN NETWORKS : TOWARD AND INTEGRATED APPROACH Brussels, 21.3.2007

Ten-T Priority Projects

by 2020

January 1 2007: EU 27

Corridor VIII bridges 2 EU Countries,

while enhancing the development of

candidate and potential candidate

Balkan Countries, at various stages

in the process of EU enlargement

DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL OF CORRIDOR VIII

The integration of Corridor VIII with HLG South Eastern European Transnational axis,

will make it part of the transnational trade traffic between Mediterranean, Adriatic and Black

Sea transport Areas, Caucasic regions and Far East

SOUTH EAST EUROPE TRANSNATIONAL AXIS

SOUTH EAST EUROPE TRANSNATIONAL AXIS

Corridor VIII Secretariat

November 2007: Agreement ENI-Gazprom for a New Gas Pipeline (Source: La Repubblica, 23 November 2007)

December 3rd , 2007 - Tirana: Meeting Prodi - Berisha

•Signature of a renewed trade agreement

•Italian investments in the energy sector:

New Energy Plant in Vlore by Enel

•Corridor 8 has been confermed a vital axis

for Albania and Italy as a gate to the Balcan Region.

Wed 17 January 2007 20:23

Sofia, Roma Tackle Corridor N. 8 Development Bulgaria in EU The heads of government of Bulgaria and Italy have agreed to speed up work on infrastructure projects to create a transport corridor crossing the Balkans to link Western Europe and the Middle East. During a daylong visit to the new EU member state, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi discussed bilateral ties and European policies with his Bulgarian counterpart Sergey Stanishev. Prodi advocated for further development of transport Corridor No 8, which linking the Adriatic and the Black Sea will "create a really strong economic zone" in southern Europe. The plan, including also Albania and Macedonia, envisages the construction of missing links in a 1,300-kilometer route of highways, railways and port infrastructure linking Italy's Adriatic port of Bari with the Bulgarian Black Sea port of Burgas. The corridor is meant to provide a faster connection between Western Europe and the countries of the Middle East and the Caucasus region. Corridor 8 is one of ten 'Trans-European Corridors' which plan to make the exchange of goods, people, oil and other energy supplies easier between the EU, the Balkan states (which look onto the Black and Caspian seas) and the states of central Asia. The European Union, whose commission president Romano Prodi was previously, believes the Corridor 8 project will help to stabilise the troubled Balkans region.