The Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Minister of Finance and Treasury, Zoran Tegeltija, and the Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Manuela Naessl, signed three EU grant agreements in Sarajevo today, with a total value of 43.8 million euros.
By signing these contracts, grants from EU funds will be secured in order to provide financial support for works on sections of the highway, namely: Rudanka interchange – Putnikovo brdo tunnel and Putnikovo brdo tunnel – Medakovo interchange.
In addition, a grant agreement was signed by which the EU provides financial support for the water supply project in Visoko.
The signing ceremony was also attended by the special representative of the European Union for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the head of the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Johann Sattler.
Tegeltija said that it is about three contracts for two projects, considering that he considers Corridor Vc to be a unique project, regardless of the fact that it is implemented by two companies, which are the holders of credit funds of two entities, because only the complete construction of the corridor will give the true effect of the entire project.
“Today we signed a contract worth EUR 42.8 million in grant funds for the construction of two sections of Corridor Vc, one in the Republika Srpska and one in the Federation of BiH. The grant funds follow the loan agreement that BiH signed with the EBRD. The total value of the loan funds is 210 million euros, these 42.8 million euros are divided into 30.8 million for the share in the Republic of Srpska and 12 million for the share in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Tegeltija.
He explained that the amounts are related to the amount of loan funds, noting that a 150 million euro loan was approved for the Republika Srpska, and 60 million for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He emphasized that both projects are ongoing, and that in the last year or two, this project looks much better than when work began on it.
“There are many sections that are currently in the construction phase of Corridor Vc. I hope that these grant funds will only speed up the completion of works on these sections. Corridor Vc is certainly the most important infrastructure project in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Tegeltija.
He emphasized that projects implemented in local communities are equally important, if not more important, than large infrastructure projects because there are direct beneficiaries of the implementation of these funds.
Speaking about the project in Visoko, he said that the 4.5 million euros provided for Visoko will be accompanied by a grant of one million euros, and will solve the problem of water supply for about 4,000 residents of Visoko.
Speaking about Corridor Vc, he said that there are still shares for which tender procedures have not been completed, contractors have not been selected. He added that they started with ten percent of the grant funds, so the EU increased them to 15, now to 20, and the last approved grant funds range up to 40 percent.
“It is a huge help for Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially since we are in the phase of implementation of the most difficult sections of Corridor Vc, not to mention the tunnel that still needs to be built south of Konjic,” added Tegeltija.
Johann Sattler said that Corridor Vc is the most important in Bosnia and Herzegovina, perhaps even in the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He emphasized that they are satisfied with the acceleration of the dynamics of the project’s implementation, because now they are working on much longer sections than before, as well as because of the increase in the grant that is given along with the loan funds.
He reminded that it was said earlier that the construction will be completed in 2028.
“You have to keep in mind that the construction of the Prenj tunnel is coming up, which is the ninth longest tunnel in Europe, 11 kilometers long, and the rest of the project will be completed in 2027 or 2028,” he said.
He pointed out that they support regional development, in this case it is about water supply in seven settlements near Visoko.
He pointed out that the EU is there and will remain there, for help, support and guidance.
“It is very important that the next report of the European Commission, which will be the first after the granting of candidate status, is positive, and will concern, among other things, the adoption of new laws related to the judiciary, courts, conflict of interests and other economic issues that are very important for country,” Sattler said.
Manuela Naessl emphasized that thanks to the grants, it will be possible to speed up the implementation of projects.
“I also thank the bilateral donors who provide the funds. This is also very important for upcoming projects. BiH applied for projects with a total value of 100 million euros for Corridor Vc and these are the funds needed for its construction,” said Naessl.
Photo: Harun Muminovic/ Fena
