The opening of the Rudozem - Xanthi border checkpoint fulfills a 30-year dream of people on both sides of the border. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov, who visited the border checkpoint today.
Deputy Prime Minister Karadjov and Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev met on site with the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport of Greece Christos Dimas.
„The Bulgarian part of the border connection is fully completed – including the adjacent infrastructure, communication systems and road connections. The state is fully ready for the checkpoint to function“, emphasized Deputy Prime Minister Karadjov.
He noted that this is the only passage in the region that provides a direct connection with the White Sea Thrace. “People from Smolyan and the region have so far had to travel over two hours to the nearest border checkpoint. Now they will travel only 20-30 minutes to cross the border“, said Karadjov.
Today, the Greek side officially opened the last road section from Dimario to the Bulgarian-Greek border. According to the Deputy Prime Minister, only one formal procedure remains – notification between the two foreign ministries, after which all vehicles will be able to freely pass through the checkpoint.
BCPP &ndquo;Rudozem – Xanthi“ is a strategic project for the connectivity between Bulgaria and Greece and part of the long-term vision for opening new transport corridors through the Rhodope Mountains. The project is aimed at improving mobility, economic development and the quality of life in the border areas.
The point is also included in the Memorandum for Enhanced Cross-Border Cooperation between Bulgaria, Greece and Romania, signed in early December in Brussels, which outlines the general framework for the development of strategic infrastructure between the three countries.
“The Plovdiv - Smolyan - Rudozem - Xanthi expressway is set as the main supporting road in the north-south direction through the Rhodope Mountains. This is an investment not just in roads, but in the future of entire regions“, Deputy Prime Minister Karadjov also emphasized.