The President of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, and the Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers, Zoran Tegeltija, officially opened Tunnel Ivan and the Tarcin – Ivan subsection, which is part of the construction of the Corridor 5c motorway, the largest and most significant infrastructure project in the country.
Von der Leyen is in BiH as part of her visit to the Western Balkans. According to the EU Delegation in BiH, “the visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina takes place in the context of the European Commission’s recent recommendation of candidate status for the country.”
“In meetings with the BiH Presidency, Chairman Tegeltija and Members of the Presidency elect as well as during a major speech before BiH political representatives, representatives of civil society, culture and the business community, President von der Leyen underlined that Bosnia and Herzegovina belongs in the European Union,” the EU Delegation statement said.
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It said that the opening of Tunnel Ivan and the Tarcin – Ivan subsection is the second major infrastructure project in BiH opened by the EC President, noting that she opened the Svilaj Bridge connecting BiH and Croatia a year ago.
“Corridor 5c is a driver of economic growth, jobs and investment, and is leading to faster and safer journeys. The EU has provided €542 million in grants for Corridor 5c, including 23.3 million euros in grants for the subsection Tarcin – Ivan and Tunnel Ivan. Bosnia and Herzegovina has also benefited from favourable loans for the construction of Corridor 5c, provided through the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development,” the statement said.
