The design for the first tram line in the Macedonian capital of Skopje will be sped up by more than a month, Sofia Electric Transport CEO Yordan Vassilev said, according to Bulgarian news agency BTA.

The administration of Skopje requested that the feasibility study be pushed forward in order to seize an opportunity to apply for funding from the EU.

Macedonia’s capital wants to apply for support from EU pre-accession funds, in addition to gaining local financing from Skopje’s 2008 city budget.

The municipal company in charge of the project is based in Sofia, and works with a Macedonian design office.

The team won a tender for the feasibility study and design for the construction of the tram line in Skopje.

The newly planned tram route awaits approval later this week.