BRUSSELS, JULY 4 (ONASA) – On June 30, the European Commission announced a new financial package to support the financing of 14 leading investment projects in the fields of transport, energy, environment, human capital and support for the private sector in the Western Balkans.
Among them are four infrastructural projects that are being implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and our country will, as stated in the statement of the EU Delegation, additionally benefit from four regional projects.
The total value of 14 new leading investment projects in the Western Balkans is 2.1 billion euros.
This amount includes EU grants worth EUR 528 million from the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III), additional bilateral contributions from EU member states and Norway, loans from international financial institutions and contributions from the countries of the Western Balkans themselves.
Investments are realized through the Investment Framework for the Western Balkans (WBIF), which represents a joint financial platform of the European Commission, financial organizations, EU member states and Norway with the aim of improving cooperation in public and private sector investments in the function of socio-economic development of the region and contribution European integration of the Western Balkans. The investment framework is the main financial tool for the implementation of the EU’s ambitious economic and investment plan for the Western Balkans.
This is the fifth investment package within the Economic and Investment Plan of the EU for the Western Balkans.
The projects were prepared in close cooperation with partners in the Western Balkans and international financial institutions in order to accelerate the European perspective of the region.
EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi said on that occasion:
– With this new investment package, we are loudly and clearly telling our partners in the Western Balkans that their future is within the EU and that we are making constant progress in overcoming the existing difference in economic development. These projects will contribute to better connectivity within the region as well as with the EU, decarbonization and competitiveness of the private sector in the region. I use the opportunity to invite our partners in the Western Balkans and international financial institutions to start these projects as soon as possible so that citizens and business entities in the region can enjoy the benefits of these investments.
Out of a total of EUR 528 million in grants allocated by the EU to the region, EUR 303 million is intended for Bosnia and Herzegovina for four significant projects that will provide citizens with concrete benefits in terms of improving traffic, clean energy and the environment, announced the EU Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The total investment made possible by these grants, together with loans from international financial institutions, amounts to 788 million euros. These are the following four approved projects:
Road corridor Vc: Ozimice – Poprikuse highway subdivision
This investment project will build 11.9 km of highway on Corridor Vc, from Ozimica to Poprikus, including five tunnels and nine bridges.
Road corridor Vc: Mostar North – Mostar South highway section
This investment project will build 14.2 km of highway on Corridor Vc, starting before the Mostar North interchange and ending after the Mostar South interchange.
Project to improve the water supply system in Sarajevo.
The goal of this project is to reduce water losses by replacing or rehabilitating outdated pipelines, pumping stations and wells, which will enable the improvement of existing ones and the connection of around 4,000 new connections for households. The project aims to improve the overall efficiency of water supply in the wider area of Sarajevo Canton.
Renovation of the Čapljina pumped hydroelectric power plant.
Rehabilitation of Crpna HE Čapljina is necessary in order to increase the share of renewable energy sources and reduce carbon emissions.
The project will rehabilitate the equipment of Crpna HE Čapljina, which will ensure the production and pumping potential for another 15 years of operation.
Bosnia and Herzegovina will benefit from four leading regional projects with a total value of 944 million euros, of which the EU provides 142 million euros in the form of grants:
– Safe and Sustainable Traffic Program (SSTP)
– GGF: Promoting green lending in the Western Balkans (II)
– Sustainable access to finance for entrepreneurship – SAFE
– Go Digital in the Western Balkans