Autoceste FBiH received the last EIB tranche in September, EPPO started investigating in October, and then EIB suspended financing

(Patria) - JP Autoceste FBiH issued a press release today stating that a record tranche of EIB funds amounting to EUR 135,259,355 was realized at the beginning of September 2025. The funds were allocated for three sub-sections: Medakovo-Ozimice, Tunel Kvanj-Buna, and Ponirak – Vraca.

The company states that this refutes claims of any suspension of EIB financial funds.

However, Autoceste forgot one detail: the European Investment Bank (EIB) confirmed to multiple media outlets that it has suspended financing.

"The European Investment Bank is investigating possible illicit activities on certain sections of Corridor 5C and has informed the competent authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) about it, as EPPO announced on October 13th," said the EIB.

On October 13th, EPPO announced that they had identified six individuals, including three BiH officials, as suspects in a cross-border corruption scheme related to the construction of Corridor 5C. This concerns the construction of the highway, largely financed by the EU, on a 35-kilometer section of the highway between Medakovo and Poprikuše (near Žepče).

JP Autoceste FBiH emphasizes that highway construction projects have not been interrupted at any point and that work is proceeding as planned, in accordance with contractual obligations and project documentation.

"Cooperation with the European Investment Bank is stable, continuous, and has never been called into question by any contracting party. Of course, the preliminary investigations conducted by the European Public Prosecutor's Office EPPO, as well as domestic prosecutor's offices in BiH, aim to eliminate all anomalies in the construction of Corridor Vc. The management of JP Autoceste FBiH continuously and diligently cooperates with all parties to eliminate them," stated the public company headed by Denis Lasić (HDZ BiH).

In addition to not addressing the official confirmation from the EIB regarding the suspension of financing for the construction of Corridor 5c in their statement, Autoceste also did not respond to calls for the dismissal of the Management of Autoceste FBiH from Naša stranka, NIP, as ruling parties, as well as the opposition SDA and DF.

Trying to present their work as legal, they remind that two sections totaling 11 kilometers connecting Poprikuše, Nemila, and Vranduk were opened to traffic last week, with the EIB co-financing the Poprikuše-Nemila section. However, they did not explain why officials from the Delegation of the European Union to BiH or representatives of the creditors were not present at the opening.

They further claim that "media reports about the alleged suspension of funds are based on the misuse of an internal document of the Government of the Federation of BiH and relevant ministries." The mentioned financial analysis, prepared before the September tranche of EUR 135,259,355, was deliberately taken out of context and misinterpreted.