Joint border crossing between Kosovo and North Macedonia opens

Kosovo and North Macedonia inaugurated the joint border crossing Han i Elezit - Blace on Saturday, in an effort to facilitate the movement of travelers between the two neighboring countries by removing double controls and stops.

The Interior Ministries of the two countries reached an agreement last year for joint border controls, which was inaugurated on Saturday in a ceremony attended by Kosovo's acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti and his Macedonian counterpart, Hristijan Mickoski.

The border crossing in Blace has been faced with long lines on both sides of the border, due to stops and checks on both sides of the border.

But, from now on, for travelers from Kosovo to North Macedonia and vice versa, there will be only one stop and one border control.

Kosovo has three official border points with North Macedonia, while joint border control will apply at two of them, including the Glloboqicë - Jazhincë crossing.

Prime Minister Kurti said that joint border control will reduce waits at the border and will affect economic growth between the two countries.

"Their expectations on the border sides will be limited and it will contribute to the economic growth of our countries, as well as trade exchange," Kurti said.

Over 5 million citizens crossed the three border points between Kosovo and North Macedonia in 2024, according to Kurti.

"This figure testifies to the connections with our people but also the need for free and rapid movement of citizens and goods. We are happy that from now on our police officers will work side by side with each other," he said.

Citizens will be checked only at the entrance to the host country, while their data will be exchanged in real time through a common technological system. Border police from both countries will work at a common checkpoint.

Macedonian Prime Minister Mickoski said that the opening of the joint crossing point between Kosovo and his country is a sign of good neighborly cooperation.

"Today we prove here that the border should not be a wall, but the border can and should be our common bridge, a bridge that connects people, ideas and opportunities. This border was until today a kind of obstacle, but from today it becomes a symbol of modernity, integration and regional maturity," he said.

The opening of the joint crossing point comes after a meeting between the two governments last November in Pristina, where they deepened cooperation./ REL