PM Plenkovic says EU set to earmark EUR 357M for Peljesac Bridge

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Thursday said that the European Commission would complete its internal procedures for the part-financing of the project called "Road Connectivity of South Dalmatia", including the construction of a future Peljesac Bridge, and Croatia can count on 357 million euro from the EU funds for that purpose.

In mid-February the Plenkovic cabinet green-lighted the financing of the project including the construction of the Peljesac Bridge.

Prime Minister Plenkovic said at his cabinet's meeting today that EU Funds and Regional Development Minister Gabrijela Zalac received an invitation from European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Cretu, and that the Commission would complete the relevant procedures for the said project on 7 June.

"We will absorb 357 million euro from the EU and EU budget and the project will be implemented at three stages in the period from 2017 to 2012," Plenkovic told the government today.

The implementation of the project will facilitate the flow of passengers and goods towards the south of Croatia, including Dubrovnik.

This strategic project is part of Croatia's 2014-2020 transport development strategy, and the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry is tasked with securing the necessary funds for this purpose until the positive completion of the entire process of allocation of EU funds for the project.

This year's budget outlays for the project stand at HRK 261.8 million, and an additional 885.39 million in 2018, while in 2019 the sum will be HRK 815.9 million, which means HRK 1.96 billion (261 million euros) on aggregate.

Croatia expects the European Commission to co-finance 85% of the entire value of the project (EUR 430.2 million), that is, to earmark EUR 357.2 million for this purpose.

 The Plenkovic cabinet vows to construct Peljesac Bridge as a national, geo-strategic project.

In late December, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure received a notification from JASPERS, an EU body providing assistance in major infrastructure projects, confirming that the project to build the 2.4-kilometre bridge connecting the southern peninsula of Peljesac with the mainland was ready, with acceptable costs set at EUR 420.3 million.

The ministry sees this as a very important step in the procedure of approval of this strategic project.

The project also includes the construction of access and ring roads.

Text: Hina

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