Lower Blace-Elez Hahn’s joint control system released

The ONE STOP Shop is working at the Dolno Blace – Elez Hahn border crossing, where a new physical and digital infrastructure has been built that establish a functional system that provides only one stop and a passport control. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, at the ceremony on the occasion of the commissioning of the system, noted that the modernization of the border crossing is opening a new perspective for citizens, the economy and the region.

The border that has so far meant an obstacle, Mickoski said, today is becoming a symbol of modernity, integration and regional maturity and will no longer wait for hours.

– Today we are symbolically and essentially moving the boundary between problems and solutions, between congestion and movement, between bureaucracy and efficiency. A common passage organized by the ONE Stop Shop system means one stop instead of two, one waiting instead of two, one insight instead of two separate controls, and for citizens it means more time for the family, for work, for life. In the best way we show that the border does not have to be a wall, the border can and should be our common bridge, which connects people, ideas and opportunities that talk about confidence, cooperation, economic cooperation, culture and tourism development – said Mickoski.

He said that today’s step is more than a bilateral policy and is part of a larger image, as he said, a picture in which the entire Western Balkans is moving in the same direction to the European Union. This common border point, he added, is not just a crossing between the two countries, but a transition to European values ​​of cooperation, integration and free movement.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti pointed out that after a long period of time the engagement and dedication resulted in a project of great importance to the citizens of Northern Macedonia and Kosovo.

« The establishment of joint border crossings is more than the border infrastructure and they are new points of cooperation and service that connect our peoples even more and strengthen our good neighborly relations, » Kurti said, pointing out that the concept of the crossing is evidence of a greater time between the two countries.

From now on, he added, citizens will only be checked when entering the country, and the data will be exchanged in real time through the modern technology system. In 2024 alone, over five million citizens passed the three border crossings between the two countries, indicating the link between our citizens, but also the need for free and fast flow of people and goods, Kurti said.

The first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Izet Mexhiti noted that our joint call from the border crossing is – integration now.

-At this place Blace, where humanity and people’s commitment to freedom, future and unification, we are starting a new history of development and progress today. With the inauguration of the so -called One Stop Shop Border Management System, we have a significant moment to improve the flow of people and material goods as a major step towards the European Union – Medziti said.

With this, he added, we take another big step in the realization of the project « Europe without borders ».

« Integration is not just a political process, it is our vision for the future without mutual walls and boundaries that share, but with bridges that connect us, » Medziti said, adding that the Balkans deserves to be part of the European Union and not as a burden, but as added.

The Blace border crossing is one of the most frequented in the country and is used by over 4.3 million passengers annually. It is important for Macedonian and Kosovo citizens, but also for the international transit of people and goods.