The opening of the Rudozem-Xanthi border crossing point fulfils a 30-year dream of the people on both sides of the border. These were the words of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov, who visited the border crossing today.
Deputy Prime Minister Karadzhov and Minister of Foreign Affairs Georgi Georgiev met on site with Greek Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Christos Dimas.
"The Bulgarian part of the border crossing is fully completed, including the adjacent infrastructure, communication systems, and road connections. The state is fully prepared for the crossing to become operational," Deputy Prime Minister Karadzhov emphasised.
He noted that this is the only pass in the region that provides a direct connection to Western Thrace. "People from Smolyan and the region previously had to travel over two hours to the nearest border crossing. Now they will travel only 20-30 minutes to cross the border," Karadzhov added.
Today, Greece officially opened the last section of the road 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 pass freely through the crossing.
The Rudozem-Xanthi border crossing point is a strategic project for connectivity between Bulgaria and Greece and part of the long-term vision for opening new transport corridors through the Rhodopes. The project aims to improve mobility, economic development, and quality of life in border areas.
The crossing point is also included in the Memorandum for enhanced cross-border cooperation between Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania, signed in Brussels in early December, which outlines the common framework for the development of strategic infrastructure between the three countries.
"The Plovdiv-Smolyan-Rudozem-Xanthi expressway is planned as a major north-south corridor through the Rhodopes. This is an investment not only in roads, but in the future of entire regions," Deputy Prime Minister Karadzhov added.
