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The topic of today’s meeting was the rehabilitation of the existing bridge at the Brčko-Gunja border crossing and defining of a contact point for a new bridge that would connect Corridor X and the Rača - Brčko - Tuzla - Belgrade highway and the Sarajevo - Belgrade highway.

“Re-establishing of freight traffic, which was banned in 2019 due to dilapidation of the existing Sava bridge, is of exceptional economic importance for the Brčko District of BiH. Traffic across the Sava River bridge has been suspended for a long time for heavy motor vehicles and is currently used only by light vehicles and pedestrians, causing multifold economic consequences. Also, the construction of a new bridge near Rača is of great importance due to the planned construction of the Sarajevo - Belgrade highway” said Minister Mitrović.

It was agreed on the necessity to repair the existing bridge at the Brčko-Gunja border crossing in order to tackle the heavy truck operation issues. Therefore, it was decided that contractual relations would be agreed in the coming period in order to define joint activities to ensure good quality and safe traffic between the countries.

“Good neighbourly and bilateral relations have marked the cooperation between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina for decades. In this regard, Croatia wants to continue to strengthen transport links with Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in places where they are needed. We agreed that the existing bridge requires extensive re-construction, but also that there are reasons justifying the construction of a new bridge to ensure a freight transport corridor that is vital for connecting this region, "said Minister Butković.

The Head of the EU Delegation to BiH, Ambassador Sattler, said that the EU has continued to support Bosnia and Herzegovina in its EU rapprochement and has continued to invest large financial resources in infrastructure projects. There are currently 15 such projects in BiH, and the EU has provided grants worth 250 million EUR.

“It is my pleasure to have attended this very specific, high-level meeting and I look forward to the opening of the Svilaj Bridge soon. I encourage delegations to address the remaining outstanding issues such as the categorisation and look forward to future projects connecting the region” Ambassador Sattler added.

As noted by Mayor Kadrić who hosted the meeting, the most important matter is to come up with a joint solution as soon as possible in order to put the freight traffic into operation.

“Transport of freight is of great significance for the Brčko District of BiH and the Port of Brčko, because we are starting the Port reconstruction project worth 10 million euros. Along with drawing the route of the highway through Brčko, these are currently the most important infrastructure projects in this local community that will facilitate the trade of goods and services, but also the economic development that has been significantly affected by the current coronavirus pandemic” said Mayor Kadrić.

“Today a significant step forward is made in building a transport network that will strengthen economies on both sides of the Sava River, as Brčko will be the intersection between a river port, bridge and highway connecting the Western Balkans region and markets with the European Union. The prosperity this will bring to the Brčko District and its neighbours also requires accelerating of the ongoing reforms in the District to strengthen good governance, improve fiscal discipline and budget transparency, improve public services, and the private sector growth” said First Deputy HR and Supervisor Scanlan.