The new BCC Ilinden to be opened

On 9th December 2005 (Friday) the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Asen Gagauzov will participate in a formal ceremony on the opening of the new border-crossing checkpoint between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Greece. The ceremony will take place in the presence of the Presidents of the two countries – Mr. Georgy Parvanov and Mr. Karolos Papoulias. The building of the BCC Ilinden – Exohy is under the implementation of an agreement between the two governments of Bulgaria and Greece from 1995 for opening of three new border-crossing checkpoints. The Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works governs the projects for the building of the technical and accessing infrastructure of the checkpoint as well as the delivery of special equipment. Building of an access road, border checkpoint and a tunnel is in the framework of the project. The financing is under Phare program – Cross-border cooperation with Greece and from the state budget. The building of the access road to the new BCC covers construction works on 12 km new road, including cross-roads and 10 large facilities – bridges, subways, overpasses, drain-pipes, etc. The total amount of the construction works sums up to over MEUR 9 provided by Phare program. The surface territory of the construction platform on which the Ilinden border checkpoint is placed is about 34 000 m2. Buildings for customs office, border police, veterinary control, road taxes and permissions have been built on the checkpoint area. The cost of the project is almost MEUR 5 and the financing is under Phare program. The construction of the access road finished in 2003 and of the border checkpoint – in 2002. The building of the border tunnel is a result of further researches carried out by ecologists authorized by the European Commission in order to be preserved the population of brown bears. The total length of the tunnel is 447 m of which the Bulgarian part is 147 m and the length of the access road to the tunnel from Ilinden BCC is 420 m. The total amount of the project is over MEUR 4 as it is being co-financed by the Phare program and the state budget. Public Relations and International Activities Directorate