While Serbia and Republika Srpska are making progress in building the Belgrade-Sarajevo highway, Brčko is at a standstill. Three years after the Memorandum was signed, political struggles within the government are blocking the route through the District and threatening to halt the entire project.
The four-billion-euro highway is still not finished. Serbia is building its section to the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The section to Bijeljina is also under construction. Brčko does not even have spatial planning documentation. A preliminary design, subdivision and expropriation – everything is on hold.
“Maybe someone could push through a solution from their position of authority, but that would not be feasible. On the other hand, they would probably cause a certain political crisis,” says Siniša Milić, Mayor of the Brčko District of BiH.
The strategic project is failing, while citizens and the economy are waiting.
“After my dismissal from the position of mayor, members of the Government from the Serb people who had an affirmative vote in the area of spatial planning documentation used that vote and did not support the changes to the spatial plan that were agreed in September 2022,” says Esed Kadrić, Chief Coordinator of the Government of the Brčko District of BiH.
Three years after the Memorandum, the District does not have a clearly defined route. Croats remain neutral, while political blockades hinder development and investments.
“It doesn’t matter to us, it is important that this highway is built and I think it will be of great benefit to the economy and the overall development of the Brčko District,” says Ivo Filipović, Vice President of the Brčko District Assembly of BiH.
Political irresponsibility, internal interests and procedural blockades are hindering the construction of a highway that could bring development, investments and better connectivity, Federalna writes.
