SOFIA/SMOLYAN – The border crossing between the Bulgarian town of Rudozem and the Greek town of Xanthi has been officially inaugurated.
The “Rudozem – Xanthi” crossing is funded by the European Union and represents a significant project for enhancing connectivity between Bulgaria and Greece as part of a broader initiative to establish new transport routes through the Rhodope Mountains, according to the Bulgarian Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works. This checkpoint is also part of the Memorandum on strengthened cross-border cooperation among Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania, signed last December in Brussels, which sets the framework for developing strategic infrastructure among the three nations.
The completion of the road segment from Dimario to the Bulgarian border at Rudozem marks the culmination of a lengthy and crucial process for the regions on both sides of the border, as noted by Bulgarian caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev during the inauguration. He remarked that this will enhance economic collaboration, improve transport links, and foster interactions between the communities on either side of the border. He highlighted that the project’s realization paves the way for tourism development, cultural exchange, and regional economic growth, ultimately benefiting both Bulgaria and Greece.
The launch of the “Rudozem – Xanthi” crossing fulfills a long-held aspiration of the residents on both sides, remarked Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and caretaker Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdán Karadzhov at the event.
The Greek Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Christos Dimas, also present at the opening, expressed that the Greek side is dedicated to renovating the road to Xanthi to enhance communication between the two nations.
During a meeting of the Council of Ministers, Bulgarian caretaker Prime Minister Rossen Zhelyazkov reiterated the significance of the border crossing for fostering good-neighborly relations, cross-border collaboration, the operation of the Schengen area, and the economic advancement of Bulgarian regions.
The newly inaugurated road segment from Dimario to the Bulgarian border at Rudozem is situated within the Hellenic Republic and is part of Vertical Axis 70 of the “Egnatia Odos” motorway. This segment represents the final infrastructure connection on the Greek side for the “Rudozem – Xanthi” border crossing and is vital for its effective operation as a strategic regional connectivity hub, emphasized the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The establishment of a border checkpoint at Rudozem was stipulated in a Bulgarian-Greek agreement in the 1990s, but the road’s opening faced decades of delays. The groundbreaking for this seventh border checkpoint between Bulgaria and Greece took place in January 2020. The border checkpoint on the Bulgarian side was finalized in 2021, while the Greek side’s completion was slated for the end of 2024, but the opening faced multiple delays due to adjacent infrastructure developments in Greece, reported the Bulgarian “Border Police.” (20–21.01.2025)
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