The only investment in Bosnia and Herzegovina supported by the European Union in the latest investment package is the water supply and sewage network project in Republika Srpska, for which Brussels is granting €17.3 million.
The European Commission announced the sixth investment package worth €1.2 billion on Tuesday as part of the EU’s Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans. This investment package includes €300 million in EU grants.
The only investment approved from Bosnia and Herzegovina was the one proposed by the Government of Republika Srpska, specifically the “Water Supply and Sewage II” project.
- “We could only propose projects that were sufficiently mature, meaning they had the necessary documentation, feasibility study, and more. One of the conditions for applying for this money was having an approved loan from international financial institutions, and we had a loan approved by the European Investment Bank (EIB) in 2019, amounting to €30 million,” said Bojana Vasiljević Poljašević, Assistant Minister of Finance of Republika Srpska, to “Glas”.
She mentioned that in the last investment round of the Western Balkans Fund, they applied with the “Water Supply and Sewage II” project and eventually received the green light for the grant.
- “We received confirmation that the only project from Republika Srpska, and indeed the entire Bosnia and Herzegovina, that was approved pertains to the reconstruction, construction, and adaptation of the water supply and sewage network in 14 local communities in Republika Srpska, affecting around 147,000 people who will have better access to the water supply network and drinking water,” said Vasiljević Poljašević, who also leads the team that proposed the project from the Government of Republika Srpska.
She emphasized that there will be around 4,000 new connections to the water supply network and as many to the sewage network.
- “The total value of the approved grant is approximately €17.3 million, and this money will be spent on the adaptation and reconstruction of the existing water supply and sewage network, as well as the construction of new networks in 14 local communities in Republika Srpska,” concluded Vasiljević Poljašević.
The “Water Supply and Sewage in Republika Srpska II” project is a continuation of a project successfully implemented since 2010, benefiting 216,000 people.
The main goal of this investment is the construction and rehabilitation of water supply and sewage infrastructure to protect the health of citizens and the environment, as well as to improve living conditions.
Strengthening Connections
The European Commission noted that the approved investments will be realized in close cooperation with partners from the Western Balkans and international financial institutions.
- “Our €30 billion investment plan for the Western Balkans is being fulfilled with this new package of €1.2 billion. Quality infrastructure strengthens regional connections and brings us closer together, which is our ultimate goal. Our Western Balkan partners are building their European future,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, adding that these investments, together with the necessary reforms and access to the single market, will prepare the economies of the partners to join the EU.
Local Communities Included in the Project:
- Prijedor
- Gradiška
- Novi Grad
- Laktaši
- Prnjavor
- Doboj
- Teslić
- Čelinac
- Nevesinje
- Trebinje
- Istočna Ilidža
- Rogatica
- Zvornik
- Vukosavlje
Source: Glas Srpske
