EC funds construction of an Albanian – Montenegrin border crossing point

MURRIQAN, April 21 – On Monday there was launched the works for the construction of the Joint Border Crossing Point between Albania and Montenegro, a 1.1 million Euros project financed by the European Commission. The ceremony was held with the presence of premiers from both countries and EC ambassadors there.
The construction of the Joint Border Crossing Point Muriqan/Sokobine, the very first one of this kind in the Western Balkans, will facilitate the cooperation between the two countries, will help to smooth the problems arising from their proximity, will contribute to the social and economic development in the border area and will help them to work together to safeguard the environment, to prevent and fight against organized crime, ensuring efficient and secure borders and promoting local “people-to-people” type actions, said a statement. This project is part of a broader assistance financed by the European Commission which includes the construction of 11 Border Crossing Points all over Albania for a total amount of 5.4 million Euros. The Joint Border Crossing Point at Muriqan/Sukobin will be composed of one main building on two levels with separate offices (customs, police, veterinary and phytosanitar) for each nation and additional facilities for inspection and sequestration, disinfections, weighing of trucks, etc.
The joint border crossing would help Albania and Montenegro to work together for safeguarding the environment, for the prevention and fight against crime, and for ensuring efficient and secure border services. “I wish the joint border crossing to become a symbol of successful cooperation between Albania and Montenegro, and a benchmark in the Western Balkans”, said Helmuth Lohan, EC ambassador in Tirana.