ZAGREB, March 19, 2018 – The Transport and Infrastructure Ministry on Monday received confirmation from JASPERS for a project to upgrade and electrify the Vinkovci-Vukovar railway line which is ready for EU funding, the ministry reported.
“Confirmation from JASPERS has arrived which is an important step in the procedure to approve a grant for this project estimated to be worth almost 531 million kuna and is now eligible to receive a grant of 85% of the total acceptable costs,” a press release from the ministry said.
The ministry added that the money would be transferred to HŽ Infrastruktura in the next few weeks so that it can continue with the project and advertise a call for tenders for works and supervision which is expected to occur at the end of the month.
This is an exceptionally significant project for the reconstruction and electrification of 18.71 kilometres of railway, which will enable trains to travel at 120 kilometres per hour. The project also foresees the reconstruction of railway stations in Vukovar/Borovo Naselje and Vukovar itself as well as the Nuštar, Bršadin-Lipovača stations, the ministry said.
JASPERS (Joint Assistance in Supporting Projects in European Regions) assesses projects and makes decisions on issuing an Action Completion Note which means that a project is ready for EU co-financing.
It is a technical assistance partnership between three partners (European Commission, EIB and EBRD) and provides independent advice to beneficiary countries to help prepare high quality major projects to be co-financed by two EU Structural and Investment Funds (European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund).
It is earmarked for large infrastructure projects that are funded by the EU for amounts of more than 50 million euro, for example, roads, rail, water, waste, energy and urban transport projects.
