SARAJEVO, JUNE 23 (ONASA) – EIB Global, the branch of the European Investment Bank (EIB) for activities outside the European Union, will invest a financial package worth a total of 116 million euros for the development of sustainable mobility, infrastructure for water supply and sanitation, and the health sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
75 million euros will be invested for the renovation and expansion of existing health units, as well as for the construction of a new medical campus of the University Clinical Center Banja Luka.
This project will ensure the provision of better health services and professional workforce in order to strengthen the resilience and responsiveness of the health system to future emergency situations.
35 million euros will be invested in the urban transport project in Sarajevo to modernize the tram and trolleybus network.
On top of the 40 million euros already borrowed from 2021, the EU bank’s investments in this project reached 75 million euros.
Thanks to this, the capital city will benefit from reduced traffic congestion and air pollution, increased safety and convenience of public transport.
In addition to these two loans, EIB Global also signed an agreement on EU grants in the amount of 6 million euros, which is placed through the IPA pre-accession aid fund for the expansion of water supply, sewage and waste water systems in about 20 municipalities.
This grant is in addition to existing investments provided for this comprehensive program that will help reduce environmental pollution and improve access to water and sewer services for residents across the country.
EIB Vice President responsible for the Western Balkans, Liljana Pavlova, said: “EIB Global views these investments as an exceptional opportunity for the country to improve the sustainability of infrastructure capacities in various sectors and thus increase resilience to climate change and economic shocks and the living standards of its residents. In addition, the development of these vital projects takes place in accordance with the practices and the economic and investment plan of the EU for the Western Balkans, taking into account concrete needs and ensuring lasting benefits for local communities.”
On the occasion of the signing of the financial package, the EIB Global delegation met yesterday in Sarajevo with the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers, Borjana Krišto.
On that occasion, Mrs. Krišto stated that Bosnia and Herzegovina remains committed to European integration and regional processes, the foundations of which are communication connectivity and structural adjustment.
She added that BiH needs to continue and strengthen cooperation with the EIB, whose fundamental mission is this.
She emphasized that EIB is one of the most important development partners of the country in terms of the number of invested loan and grant funds in local and regional development projects of public interest.
The head of the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EU’s special representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Johann Sattler, said: “These significant funds are another proof that we are fulfilling our promises. It will make a concrete and positive difference for the citizens of BiH in the form of sustainable transport, improvement of the health system and better water supply and sewage systems throughout BiH. BiH does not have a more loyal and dedicated partner than the EU, whose support comes in the form of a combination of grants and favorable loans, all of which help to improve living conditions and economic development on the way to the EU.”
With these new investments, the EIB’s previous loans for BiH have reached the amount of 3.4 billion euros to support the development of vital infrastructure and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
More than half of the borrowed amount was allocated to the transport sector (1.6 billion euros), followed by investments in SMEs (880 million euros), energy projects (more than 300 million euros), water supply and sanitation (250 million euros).