Motorways must change plan: Route on Corridor Vc south of Mostar not in line with EBRD and EU standards

(Patria) - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has reviewed complaints from Mostar citizens affected by the construction of Corridor Vc on the Mostar south – Kvanj tunnel route and confirmed that the selected route is not in line with their standards. Now the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the support of the EU and European public banks, must ensure an effective legal remedy.

The local population affected by the European Corridor Vc calls on the international community to ensure that the motorway is built in accordance with international environmental and human rights standards. In a letter to the Head of the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Johann Sattler, and several key embassies, citizens drew particular attention to recent findings of serious violations of international standards and are demanding the rerouting of the Mostar south – Kvanj tunnel section to protect their land, livelihoods, cultural heritage, and nature.

Domestic authorities have received nearly three billion euros in loans and grants from the European Union, the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the EBRD for the construction of Corridor Vc. In January, the EBRD's Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM) published an investigation report on the Mostar south – Kvanj tunnel section. It found a serious violation of the Bank's environmental and social policy.

It is important to emphasize that IPAM found that the project violated the "do no harm" principle by breaching standards of democratic decision-making, consideration of alternatives, and impact assessment. To rectify these violations, IPAM issued recommendations to bring the project into compliance with the Bank's standards.

The first step is in line with the request of local complainants, namely it was stated that the EBRD should "conduct a new analysis of alternative routes comparing the current route with the 2011 route over the ridge using now available and updated data" and ensure transparency and public participation in the decision-making process.

Although land acquisition is not complete, several lawsuits and complaints are ongoing, and construction work on the section has not started, the recommendations for reassessing the route have so far been ignored by the project implementer JP Autoceste (JPAC). The company has not given an official response to the compliance review report. Meanwhile, EBRD management responded that it "is not in a position to fully implement [the recommendation] without acceptance by JPAC and the FBiH Government."

Amna Popovac, a representative of the citizens who filed the complaint, emphasizes that Bosnia and Herzegovina is on the path to joining the European Union and that EU standards need to be applied in the construction of infrastructure with EU money and huge loans from public banks.

"Corridor Vc is a test of whether democratic principles and human rights will be respected or not. Our EU partners cannot stand by and watch as EU normative principles are destroyed by bulldozers," said Popovac.

Azra Duraković, owner of endangered land and complainant, emphasizes that much has changed in local communities since the current route of Corridor Vc was approved without public hearings in 2017.

"Settlements are advancing, there are many new residential and economic activities. Project implementers must redo the assessment for route selection in line with the EBRD IPAM recommendations," says Duraković.