Prime Minister and European Commission President open Svilaj Bridge

The 660-metre-long and 29-metre-wide Svilaj Bridge, spanning the Sava River between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, was formally opened on Thursday. 

On hand for the occasion were Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen, and Zoran Tegeltija, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The six-lane bridge will be a key feature on the pan-European Vc corridor route between Budapest, Osijek, Sarajevo, and the Croatian seaport in Ploče.

"I am extremely pleased to be here today to open the Svilaj bridge. This is a project that further connects Croatia and the European Union with Bosnia and Herzegovina. This also helps to connect Croatia with Croat populations - which are a constituent people in Bosnia and Herzegovina," said Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

The president of the European Commission said it was an important step in bringing Bosnia and Herzegovina closer to the EU.

"I am very pleased to be in Bosnia and Herzegovina today and to inaugurate the Svilaj Bridge. It connects the Western Balkans to the European Union in yet another way. The EU has invested 25 million euros in the bridge, but much more important is the symbol it provides, which is the very essence of this project. Building bridges between people, countries, and cultures is crucial for our common future because Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Western Balkans, belong in the European Union."

"Building bridges, like this one here, shows the competence of our countries in constructing major infrastructure projects, but it also goes a long way in connecting communities. This bridge was the result of the deep desire of the people of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina living on both sides of the River Sava. The desire of people to come together is often much more important than steel and concrete," said Zoran Tegeltija.

The construction of the bridge started in 2016, and was completed in 2020.