EIB supports the upgrading of Croatia’s infrastructure with EUR 85 million

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing two loans in Croatia: EUR 60 million for the extension of the motorway along Corridor Vc and EUR 25 million to develop community infrastructure in coastal areas of the country.

EIB Vice-President Wilhelm Molterer commented: “I very much welcome the fact that EIB funds will help to improve Croatia’s transport connections with the EU via Bosnia and Herzegovina, so deepening integration with the Union and supporting infrastructure developments in Croatia’s coastal areas that will strengthen the country’s competitiveness and enhance the quality of life of its citizens.”

The loan of EUR 60 million will support the construction of 13 km of motorway along the crucial Vc transport corridor linking the Croatian coast with the Hungarian capital Budapest through Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project consists of the construction of two sections:

• between Sredanci and the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, including half of the new Sava river bridge in the North of the country, and
• from the Ploče interchange to the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina in the South of Croatia.

The loan of EUR 25 million will finance over the period 2010-2013 the rehabilitation and upgrading of basic infrastructure in municipalities and towns in the following coastal counties of Croatia: Istarska, Primorsko-goranska, Ličko-senjska, Zadarska, Šibensko-kninska, Splitsko-dalmatinska, Dubrovačko-neretvanska.

The projects to be supported will contribute to the protection of the environment and human health and help the country to implement EU legislation, particularly in these areas.

• urban renewal and the upgrading of existing municipal infrastructure, i.e. roads, public amenities and educational, health, social welfare and cultural facilities,
• water supply and wastewater schemes, and
• upgrading of the existing capacity of ferry ports on Croatia’s islands to improve domestic connections.

Background:

The EIB is the long-term lending bank of the European Union. Its main task is to contribute towards the integration, balanced development and economic and social cohesion of the EU Member States. Besides supporting projects in the EU Member States, its lending activities also include financing investments in future Member States of the EU and EU partner countries.

Since 2001 the EIB has provided loans in Croatia worth some EUR 2.5 billion, including the current loans, to implement projects facilitating the process of integration with the EU, the fulfilment of EU accession criteria and harmonisation with the EU’s economic development so as to foster the best possible preparation of Croatia for EU membership.