Early Warning System

Countries

North Macedonia

Geographic location where the impacts of the investment may be experienced.

Financial Institutions

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

International, regional and national development finance institutions. Many of these banks have a public interest mission, such as poverty reduction.

Project Status

Proposed

Stage of the project cycle. Stages vary by development bank and can include: pending, approval, implementation, and closed or completed.

Bank Risk Rating

Environmental and social categorization assessed by the development bank as a measure of the planned project’s environmental and social impacts. A higher risk rating may require more due diligence to limit or avoid harm to people and the environment. For example, "A" or "B" are risk categories where "A" represents the highest amount of risk. Results will include projects that specifically recorded a rating, all other projects are marked ‘U’ for "Undisclosed."

Voting Date

Oct 18, 2023

Date when project documentation and funding is reviewed by the Board for consideration and approval. Some development banks will state a "board date" or "decision date." When funding approval is obtained, the legal documents are accepted and signed, the implementation phase begins.

Borrower

Government of North Macedonia

A public entity (government or state-owned) provided with funds or financial support to manage and/or implement a project.

Sectors

Transport

The service or industry focus of the investment. A project can have several sectors.

Investment Type(s)

Loan

The categories of the bank investment: loan, grant, guarantee, technical assistance, advisory services, equity and fund.

Investment Amount (USD)

$ 190.67 million

Value listed on project documents at time of disclosure. If necessary, this amount is converted to USD ($) on the date of disclosure. Please review updated project documents for more information.
Currency conversion note:
Bank reported 175
Converted using 2023-07-06 exchange rate.

Project Cost (USD)

$ 609.84 million

Bank Documents

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment

Primary Source

Original disclosure @ EBRD website

Updated in EWS Jul 6, 2023

Disclosed by Bank Jul 4, 2023

Contribute Information
Can you contribute information about this project?
Contact the EWS Team

Project Description

If provided by the financial institution, the Early Warning System Team writes a short summary describing the purported development objective of the project and project components. Review the complete project documentation for a detailed description.

According to the Bank’s website, the project consists of the provision of a sovereign loan of up to EUR 175 million to the Republic of North Macedonia for the benefit of the Public Enterprise for Railways Infrastructure ("PERI") for completion of the last section of rail infrastructure on the eastern end of the rail Corridor VIII. The loan will finance: (i) the construction, signalling and telecommunication from Kriva Palanka to the Bulgarian border in total length of 23.4 km, and (ii) the electrification works for the overall eastern rail line including the sections 1, 2 and 3 in total length of 88 km. The Project is envisaged to be co-financed by European Investment Bank ("EIB") and the EU through the Western Balkans Investment Framework ("WBIF") and the national Instrument for Pre-Accession II ("IPA II").

The Project will: i) establish very first connection of the Macedonian rail transport with the Bulgarian and EU core TEN-T network, ii) facilitate the international/transit movement of goods and people, in particular with EU neighbouring countries and Turkey, and iii) shift traffic from road to rail transport by improving the competitiveness of the rail sector. Additionally, the Project will increase traffic safety and reliability for both passengers and freight, offer opportunities for business development near the railway line and stations, and improve environmental conditions in settlements and regions covered by the Project.

Investment Description

Here you can find a list of individual development financial institutions that finance the project.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

Contact Information

This section aims to support the local communities and local CSO to get to know which stakeholders are involved in a project with their roles and responsibilities. If available, there may be a complaint office for the respective bank which operates independently to receive and determine violations in policy and practice. Independent Accountability Mechanisms receive and respond to complaints. Most Independent Accountability Mechanisms offer two functions for addressing complaints: dispute resolution and compliance review.

COMPANY CONTACT INFORMATION

Driton Rusi, Assistant Director for Railway Lines
d.rusi@mzi.mk
+389 (0)2 2449 740
Str. Jordan Mijalkov no.50b, 1000 Skopje

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

You can request information by emailing: accessinfo@ebrd.com or by using this electronic form: https://www.ebrd.com/eform/information-request

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF EBRD

The Project Complaint Mechanism (PCM) is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who have been or are likely to be adversely affected by an European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the PCM, it may assess compliance with EBRD's own policies and procedures to prevent harm to the environment or communities or it may assist you in resolving the problem that led to the complaint through a dialogue with those implementing the project. Additionally, the PCM has the authority to recommend a project be suspended in the event that harm is imminent.

You can contact the PCM at: pcm@ebrd.com or you can submit a complaint online using an online form at: http://www.ebrd.com/eform/pcm/complaint_form?language=en

You can learn more about the PCM and how to file a complaint at: http://www.ebrd.com/work-with-us/project-finance/project-complaint-mechanism.html