North Macedonia’s Minister of Local Self-Government Zlatko Perinski launched the project for the construction of a new border check point between Bulgaria and North Macedonia - Strumyani - Berovo (Klepalo), the Macedonian ministry has announced on Facebook. The project costs EUR 11.1 million, EUR 7.7 million of which under the programme for cross-border cooperation between Bulgaria and North Macedonia for the 2021-2027 period, the rest is co-financed by the two countries. Minister Perinski writes that the use of Klepalo border crossing will facilitate the passage of people and commodities between the two countries, create conditions for economic growth in the border region giving direct access to Struma motorway which is an important element of the trans-European transport network. “I believe that Klepalo, a project that has remained on paper for three decades, will now become reality in November 2029,” he said.

The project for the construction of Klepalo is a strategic element of the cross-border cooperation programme INTERREG. A joint expert commission for determining the parameters of the new crossing between Strumyani in Bulgaria, and Berovo in North Macedonia started work in March 2022. The border crossing will be open to passenger and freight vehicles of up to 3.5 tons, the Bulgarian news agency BTA reports.