European Ombudsman: BiH has not taken an official position against the construction of the Pelješac Bridge

(Patria) - Bosnia and Herzegovina has not sent any comments nor has it taken any official position against the construction of the bridge. This is the answer that the president of the Bosnian Academic Society from Austria, Sirađ Duhan, received from the European Ombudsman on the question of the legality of the construction of the Pelješac Bridge in the Bay of Mali Ston, which after construction will reduce Bosnia and Herzegovina's access to the open sea.

Duhan told the Patria agency in a comment that he had warned the European Ombudsman that the Pelješac Bridge is financed by taxes, which are paid by citizens of Austria, including himself, but that he doubts the legality of this project.

Marta Hirsch-Ziembinska, Head of Information and Communication Technology and Investigations at the European Ombudsman's institution, stated in her response to Sirađ:

“On March 28, 2019, you filed a complaint with the European Ombudsman regarding the European Commission's decision to donate money for the construction of the Pelješac Bridge in Croatia. After careful analysis of the information you sent us, I regret to inform you that the Ombudsman cannot take up your case as there are insufficient grounds for an investigation.

Firstly, the European Commission has explained that it has no decision-making power regarding the geographical demarcation of state borders, which is an area where EU member states have exclusive competence;

Secondly, there is no evidence for your claims that the construction of the Pelješac Bridge violates international law.

Thirdly, the Croatian Ministry of Environmental Protection consulted BiH, specifically the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH, regarding the assessment of the cross-border environmental impact of this project, as required by international law. Bosnia and Herzegovina has not sent any comments nor has it taken any official position against the construction of the bridge.”

Sirađ Duhan said he was disappointed, stating that "politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina have betrayed both the state and the citizens."

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