Tegeltija, Plenković and Von der Leyen Open Svilaj Bridge, Bilateral Meetings

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BIH Zoran Tegeltija, together with President of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenković and President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen, solemnly opened the Svilaj Bridge on the Sava River, linking BIH and Croatia. The event was attended by Minister of Communications and Transport of BIH Vojin Mitrović and Head of the European Union Delegation in BIH Johann Sattler. 

Following the bridge opening ceremony, a new border crossing Svilaj was put in operation, thus creating conditions for international passenger traffic.

Chairman Tegeltija said BIH and Croatia demonstrated they have sufficient knowledge, skill and courage to finance and build the bridge in Svilaj, which is important for all countries lined to the Pan-European Corridor V c, from Budapest to Ploče. He added that the bridge, the construction of which costed EUR 23 million, shows the capability of both BIH and Croatia to build mayor infrastructure projects, connecting people of the two countries and their economies, respectively.

“We waited for this for a long time, never thinking of giving it up. That is why the bridge will be one of the strongest symbols of connectedness, shortening the distance between people and economies”, Chairman Tegeltija said. He reminded that a construction of bridge on the Sava River near Gradiška has started, the completion of which is expected by the next summer.

Tegeltija thanked for all assistance received from the EU for the bridge construction and for realisation of many other projects, made during the Covid-19 pandemics. He expressed his satisfaction for the secured infrastructure funds for the Western Balkans, pointing that BIH has ready prepared projects and available constructors.

President of the Croatian Government Andrej Plenković said the bridge in Svilaj represents one more link between BIH and Croatia, and between the EU and BIH, as well, adding that the connecting infrastructure strengthens both links of people and economy.

He assessed that the true value of the bridge will be evident with a completion of the remaining 200 km of Corridor V c.

President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen stated that the opening of the bridge in Svilaj is a special moment as it marks one more connection of the EU and Western Balkan counties.

“More important than funds invested is the symbolic of the bridge, and that is the linking of people and cultures. BIH and the Western Balkans, in general, belong to the EU, which is in our common interest”, she stressed, pointing that the EU has invested additional funds for an urgent economic recovery of the region, and that EUR 3.3 billion were invested for support to the Western Balkans.

She pointed at the importance of linking of the region, setting-up common market and further construction of the Corridor V c, hopeful that BHI will soon become a member of the digital platform, which is the title of an easier traffic between the EU and BIH. It is about universal certificate, recognised throughout the EU. Everybody has to face the challenges of nowadays, accelerate vaccination, and boost the economic recovery, the President of the European Commission said, and assessed that the combat against pandemics has been successful so far.

“As to the European integrations, we discuss it in detail. It is clear that the region must construct the most important bridge and that is the bridge of reconciliation”, Von der Leyen stressed.

Chairman Tegeltija headed the BIH Council of Ministers delegation at a bilateral meeting with the delegation of the Republic of Croatia, led by President of the Government Andrej Plenković.

After the meeting, Tegeltija stated that the bridge in Svilaj, as well as the bridge on the Sava River in Gradiška, currently in the process of construction, represent some of the most important projects of BIH and Croatia. He added that there are several difficult outstanding issues between BIH and Croatia.

“One of these is non-ratified agreement on border for 20 year now, leaving the border crossings issue still outstanding. We have to understand that this border crossing in Svilaj is opened on a temporary basis only, and it may be operative as such for only three months’ time”, Tegeltija said, adding that among outstanding issues there is Trgovska Gora, as well, and amendments of the BIH Election Law, for which Croatia is very interested.

“We agreed that all these topics should be the subject of discussion between line ministries, so that a joint session of the Council of Ministers of BIH and Government of Croatia may arrive to solution to at least of some of these issues in shortest time possible”, Tegeltija said.

Chairman Tegeltija held a bilateral meeting with the President to the European Commission, following which he stated that the Economic Investment Plan for the Western Balkans was discussed most.

“It is something that has become realistic, as relevant finances were secured, therefore the project realisation is to take place”, Tegletija said, adding that the meeting discussed also the heading of the Berlin Process, as Angela Merkel, who was the leader in the process, is to leave the post of Chancellor.

Tegeltija said that an unavoidable topic was the EU enlargement process, and reiterated that BIH wants to access the EU more than EU shows an ambition to admit into its membership any of the Western Balkan countries. (end)