SHORT-TERM PRIORITIES

It is expected that by the end of 2007 the project Construction of the Skopje Bypass Motorway , first phase, section will be completed : from Hipodrom to Orizari, in length of 14,7 km. The total economic value of the project is 120,6 million euros, of which for the first stage – sum of 50 million euros is provided by EIB. About 70 % of the work on the first section is completed. The second stage of the project Construction of the Skopje Bypass Motorway, section Orizari-Saraj in total length of  11.8 km is predicted to be completed in 2009 (2008) . 30 % of the work on the second section is completing, according to the dynamic plan.

The High Level Group for transport recommends the European Union, the member countries of the EU and the banks to focus their cooperation and financial activities on the priority axes and the horizontal measures established in its report. The recommendations of the High-Level Group for transport are focused on support for continuous process of development on the principal axes, focused and coordinated implementation of the axes, realization of the horizontal measures. For all the projects from the priority list 1 of the report have to start with activities of preparation of projects and feasibility activities. 

The section Tabanovce-Kumanovo in total length of 8, 4 km is only constructed in length of 1,1 km in front of the border crossing Tabanovce in 1994. This part of the section has to be rehabilitated. It remains to be constructed the remaining 7,3 km for what  is prepared a completely investment-technical documentation and at the same time it is a priority. The negotiations with the World Bank for construction of this section are in final phase. With completion of this section to motorway standards it is expected to ensure a safe and quality transport that will provide an improvement of the traffic flow as well as increasement of the commerce, transportation of passengers and goods and generally incerasement of the socio-economic development of the state.
Detail Designs including feasibility studies are prepared for the sections Demir Kapija-Udovo-Smokvica. This project documentation is financed through PHARE program for cross-border cooperation and it is prepared by the French firm Scetaroute.C.O. The construction as a motorway will be divided in several phases. According to the expert opinion of FNRR as well of the international finance institutions in the first phase a new carriage way by which the already existing roadway will be used as a motorway have to be constructed and in the second phase the already existing roadway will be reconstructed. According to the Scetaroute.C.O Study with the construction of this section the capacity will be increased for 180 % .
With the construction will be saved founds for all passenger categories up to 35 % :

With the construction will have direct and indirect influence on the increasement of the economy.
Direct influence is employment on the location, time effect during the construction but with significant support of the construction sector of the state.
The Indirect influence is characterized with :

There is still a continuous cooperation with GD Regional Policy and GD Extension in collaboration with GD Transport and Energetic. According to the Document for Multi-annual Planning (MIPD) in the framework of Component III – Regional development with particular stressing on the infrastructure projects whose aim is overall traffic connection of the Republic of Macedonia with the Transeuropean networks. Common mission is finalization of the Corridor X , financing of the construction of the sections on the motorway Demir Kapija-Udovo and Udovo-Smokvica, modernization of the railway track Tabanovce-Gevgelija and completing of the project documentation for the Corridor VIII. The largest part of the funds from this component will be aimed for development of the transport infrastructure for better preparation for absorption of the funds. For this component has to be prepared Strategic coherent framework and Operative program.
The Greek Plan for Economic Reconstruction of the Balkans-GPEOB puts particular emphasis on the completing of the pan European Corridor X completing of the motorway sections in the Republic of Macedonia : Demir Kapija-Udovo and Udovo-Smokvica in total length of about 33 km. Considering the expenses for completing of this section (the total value of Demir Kapija-Udovo-Smokvica is  150 million euro) . For financing of this project are included funds from GPEOB, IPA-Component III for regional development and loans.

SEETO-After the adoption of the new five-year plan for 2007-2011, ensures a continuous participation of the work of the Management Direction, regular providing of the informations from the National Coordinators to SEETO secretariat and payment of annual national participation into the Budget of SEETO.
The implementation of the Five-year plan 2007-2011 requires future adjustment with acquis communautaire , legal and regulative reform in all transport subsections, special accent of the introduction of the soft measures and active cooperation and coordination with the International financial institutions, the Secretariat of the Transport corridors and other interested parties. 

CARDS 2006 – Technical help to MTC for preparation of the National transport strategy;Investment plan for roads and reconstruction of the road section;

The aim of the project is a preparation of a long-term National transport strategy (2007-2017) which will define the principal directions for development of the transport policy in the Republic of Macedonia by identification of targets as well as strategy for development of the road sector. The main directions for development of the road sector in the Republic of Macedonia will result on the basis of the following analyses which will be included in the Strategy :

The aim of the project is preparation of an investment plan for roads in order to improve the investment climate in the transport sector. In the project framework will be provided continuous cooperation with MTC and FNRR in order to be designated the priorities for formulation of an investment plan. A short list of priority projects according to the five-year plan of SEETO will be prepared  , the Final Report of the High Level Transport Group and the JBIC Study for development of the transport network in West Balkans. Also will be prepared a project design conception in order to be enabled a preparation of the economic analysis as well as analysis for protection of the environment .The preparation of an investment plan has started in September,2006 and it is expected to be ended until April,2007.