In the area of the village of Kapitan Andreevo, north of the current border crossing point, the delegations conducted an on-site inspection of the location designated for a new border crossing. Its proximity to the existing facility is a strategic decision that will significantly facilitate the implementation of the supporting infrastructure. This project is an integral part of a broader strategy to improve border control and represents a key stage in the development of the Trans-European Transport Network.
With the intention of increasing traffic efficiency and fostering new trade relations, the Republic of Türkiye supports the initiative. Sezai Uçarmak, the country's Deputy Minister of Trade, emphasized that the specialization of the facility exclusively for heavy-duty vehicles is of paramount importance. He expressed his appreciation to the Bulgarian government for its commitment to upgrading bilateral relations. Bulgaria, for its part, is actively working on the "Kapitan Andreevo – North" project, which aims to drastically reduce waiting times at the busiest land border within the EU.
Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev highlighted the significance of the initiative: "Our goal is common and shared – to have a border that is both secure and fast. The new strategic project for the 'Kapitan Andreevo – Kapıkule – North' border crossing will contribute to better and more efficient traffic organization and border connectivity." Regarding practical implementation, both sides are fully prepared to sign an agreement for construction as soon as possible and to establish a joint expert commission, whose task will be to finalize all technical specifications.
The meeting held at the "Kapıkule" border crossing is a continuation of the discussions from the visit of Minister of Interior Mustafa Çiftçi to Sofia. The dialogue also included representatives from the Customs Agency, the General Directorate of Border Police, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Key topics of the discussion were:
- Achieving effective cooperation between customs and border services in countering smuggling, drug trafficking, and illegal migration.
- Implementing measures to facilitate the transit of Turkish citizens to and from Western Europe, which is a major priority during the peak of the holiday season.
- Bulgaria's active work on the large-scale reconstruction and expansion of the three main adjacent border crossings – "Kapitan Andreevo," "Lesovo," and "Malko Tarnovo."