Europe has no idea about the construction of the Pelješac Bridge

The Croatian government has not yet sent any request to the European Commission for co-financing the Pelješac Bridge construction project! This was confirmed to HRT by EC spokesperson Jakub Adamovicz, reports the Patria news agency.  

Earlier, the government announced that the project implementation would start in the autumn. Siniša Hajdaš Dončić, the Minister of Transport, claims that a tender will be announced in the autumn, and work could begin after the elections, in the spring of next year. The government believes that the bridge will be co-financed with European funds, covering up to 85 percent of the costs.

However, the European Commission is not yet aware of such plans by the Croatian authorities. It is therefore questionable whether they will approve the funds and in what amount. 

-It is very important for the Croatian side to submit an official request. We expect this to happen by the end of 2015 or the beginning of 2016, i.e., in the not-too-distant future. Once that official request is received, we need to make a decision within three months, meaning relatively quickly. What is being said now is premature. For us, it is only the Croatian position, but it is very clear that from the EC's perspective, a decision has not yet been made, says Adamovicz.

Hajdaš Dončić, on the other hand, explained that money from Europe cannot be expected in advance anyway. The state must secure funds for financing the project, and the EU later refunds those funds, says the Minister of Transport.

-The state itself secures the funds, and only after delivery, I will say, completed situations, does the EU refund the money into that same fund. At the time of announcing construction works, i.e., the given tender for project contractors, all costs are eligible, and then, according to the usual procedure, when the time comes, invoices are sent, they are checked, and you get the money back. So, you never get the money in advance, but you get it after the work is completed, stated Hajdaš Dončić