EIB suspends financing to FBiH motorways company amid corruption probe

Nasa stranka said the EIB’s decision represents a serious blow to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and a clear sign of grave institutional and governance failure.

“The officially confirmed reasons for this decision, which relate to suspicions of illegalities and possible corrupt activities on Corridor Vc projects, compromise not only a single public company but also the credibility of the Federation of BiH in the eyes of European financial institutions,” the party said.

The party added that the continued tenure of the current management of JP Motorways of the Federation of BiH is “politically untenable and morally unacceptable.”

“We believe the only responsible step is the immediate dismissal of the entire management and governing structures of the company, in order to create space for an independent investigation, full cooperation with domestic and international institutions, and the restoration of trust among financial partners,” it said.

The EIB confirmed to N1 in October that it is investigating possible corrupt activities at JP Motorways of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, adding that the EU judiciary is involved in the case. The Federation’s POSKOK (Special Department for the Suppression of Corruption, Organized and Inter-Entity Crime) also told N1 that it is working on several cases related to the company’s operations.

An investigation has been launched over suspected corruption in the construction of certain motorway sections.

The EIB said it has introduced enhanced monitoring and reporting measures for operations related to Corridor Vc, along with other legal steps aimed at safeguarding the integrity of its financial investments.

Meanwhile, the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed that earlier this year it provided assistance, following a request, to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Venice. Bosnia’s State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) previously said that certain individuals had been questioned on the orders of prosecutors.

POSKOK said multiple cases concerning the Motorways company remain under review. A former federal auditor noted that this is not the first time the company has been linked to allegations of non-transparent spending of public funds.

The most recent audit report from 2024 proved particularly controversial. Auditors highlighted repeated amendments to contracts for the construction and supervision of motorway sections, increasing the value of just four sections by €255.5 million, along with an additional 11.5 million convertible marks in interest costs on loans.