RAILWAY VINKOVCI-VUKOVAR UPGRADE (SPL 20140375)

The project concerns the modernisation and electrification of the single track, non-electrified railway line connecting Vinkovci and Vukovar (Vukovar-Srijem county) in Croatia. After a 18.7 km long reconstruction, the line will allow a maximum speed of 120 km/h exception made for urban areas.

The main objective is to improve the accessibility to and within the region of Eastern Slavonia, Croatia, by renewing and electrifying the railway line between Vinkovci and Vukovar which connects the Port of Vukovar (Core Network) on the Danube river, part of the Rhine-Danube Corridor Vll, to the main railway Corridor (X) line in Croatia.

The pertinence to Annexes I and II of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive, the screening decisions, the EIA and the development consents will be reviewed during the appraisal. The project's potential impact on protected areas and species, in accordance with the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and Birds Directive (2009/147/EC) will also be appraised. A modal shift thanks to increased rail-based mobility can be expected (due to increased speed and improved services), thus also decreasing traffic-related greenhouse gas emissions, although to a limited extent. Details will be checked during the appraisal.

The EIB will require the promoter to ensure that the contract for the implementation of the project has been or and will be tendered in accordance with the relevant applicable EU procurement legislation, Directive 2014/24/EU and 2014/25/EU as interpreted by the Court of Justice of the EU, with the publication of tender notices in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), as and where required. There are three publications in OJEU (2018/S 061-135680 on 28 March 2018, 2018/S 083-188471 on 28 Apri 2018 and 2019/S 088-212123 on 7 May 2019).