The EU grants 347 million euros to Albania and Montenegro for railway infrastructure

The European Commission has approved 120.5 million and 226.5 million euros respectively for railway projects in Albania and Montenegro.
The financing in question is part of an investment package in the amount of 680 million euros in the field of railway transport and renewable energy in the Western Balkans.
In Albania, the funding will be used for the reconstruction of the 33.5 km line between Duras and Rogozina, which will be completed in 2028.
The work will include electrification, as well as signaling and telecommunications systems, "Albeninon Post" reported.
Thus, the standard gauge line is part of Pan-European Corridor 8, which connects Southern Italy with the Black Sea.
The line was built in the late 1940s, but for the past 25 years there has been almost no maintenance, forcing trains to run at low speeds.
Meanwhile, in Montenegro, repairs and improvements will be made to the railway line between Tivat and Golubovci.
This line is part of the railway line connecting the Montenegrin coast with Vrabnica in Central Serbia, which is considered the most important line in Montenegro.
The work, which is expected to be completed in 2029, is part of plans to extend the TEN-T core network in the Western Balkans.
Both projects are included in the sixth financial package of the Economic and Investment Plan of the European Union for the region.
The latter will include investments worth a total of 16.6 billion euros and aims to pave the way for the countries to the EU.
"As we continue to work together on accession, we must take decisive action to bring the Western Balkans closer to our economy," said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
"Together we are laying the foundations for sustainable growth and closer integration, demonstrating once again our strong commitment to the region's prosperity and its path to EU membership," she added. /BGNES