Minister Forto addresses Bosnia's transport crisis and railway projects

Minister Forto informed the Council that Chairwoman Borjana Kristo has engaged in direct dialogue with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković regarding the border situation. Prime Minister Plenkovic is expected to provide feedback shortly after consulting with his Interior Minister, Davor Bozinovic, and the Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, Oleg Butkovic. Furthermore, Forto formally conveyed the protesters' demand for a joint session between the Council of Ministers and the entity governments to address systemic issues within the transport industry.

The Minister clarified that the crisis extends beyond the EU "90/180" residency limitation for drivers. The broader agenda includes demands for industry incentives, fuel excise tax refunds, and the harmonization of working hours at border crossings. Forto expressed hope for a peaceful resolution, citing the millions in losses suffered by BiH producers during previous blockades due to supply chain disruptions.

Turning to infrastructure, Forto highlighted a recent communication from the European Commission regarding the Western Balkan Investment Framework (WBIF). He drew particular attention to the railway reconstruction project spanning from Samac to Doboj and Rjecica. While a costly undertaking, the project has secured 150 million Bosnian marks (approx. €76.7 million), which includes approximately 84 million Bosnian marks (approx. €42.9 million) in grants. Forto warned that despite having secured financing and documentation four years ago, the project risks being delisted due to administrative delays—a setback he described as the most expensive factor in national infrastructure development.