EUR 550 million for reconstruction of Velika Plana-Nis railway – Memorandum of Understanding for preparation of project documentation signed.

Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlovic signed the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the preparation of project documentation for the reconstruction of the railway from Velika Plana to Nis, which is one of the first steps in the realization of this project of the total investment value of around EUR 550 million.

At the media conference “EU for You – For a Modern and Sustainable Serbia”, held on the occasion of presenting the Project Preparation Facilities of the European Union (EU PPF), Mihajlovic said that the total length of the sections of this railway, for which the documentation is being prepared, was around 111 km, the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure said in a press release.

– This is an important day for us, as we are beginning the realization of important projects which have been talked about for decades, not just in the field of transport, but environmental protection as well, which is important both in Serbia and outside it – Mihajlovic said.

She points out that the comments on the new European Commission report have obscured the question asked by citizens throughout Serbia, which is what the country stands to gain from the accession to the EU and what the projects with the EU are.

– This kind of project is a great example of what the accession to the EU brings, which is a constant raising of the standards in all fields – she said.

– The preparation of the project documentation is a serious job, as it has an influence on everything that happens within the project later on and on the efficiency of the realization. The Ministry of European integration has an important role in preparing the projects and they have provided us with considerable help in preparing the project of the modernization of the Nis-Brestovac railway and the reconstruction of the navigation lock on the HPP Djerdap 1, which is to be revitalized after 30 years – Mihajlovic added.

She signed the Memorandum of Understanding related to the project of the modernization of the Velika Plana-Nis railway, concerning the cooperation on preparing the project documentation, with Serbian Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimovic and the acting director of Infrastructure of Serbian Railways, Miroljub Jevtic, and the signing was attended by the head of the EU Delegation, Sem Fabrizi.

Joksimovic said that the EU PPF program didn't only aim to accelerate Serbia's European integration, but to send a message that the goal is to have a modern and sustainable Serbia and that reaching this goal is only possible through the partnership and joint progress of Serbia and the EU.

Fabrizi said that, as the number one donor and investor in Serbia, the EU wanted to be present in the country, not just through the preparation of projects, but through their implementation as well.

– Through the EU PPF program, the EU supports the preparation of project documentation for 15 projects which pertain to various fields, including transport and environment, and it is especially important for all those projects to be sustainable, long-term projects – he said.

Infrastruktura Železnice Srbije Beograd

Ministarstvo građevinarstva, saobraćaja i infrastrukture Republike Srbije

Ministarstvo za evropske integracije Republike Srbije

Delegacija Evropske unije u Republici Srbiji Beograd

Hidroelektrane Đerdap Kladovo

Memorandum of Understanding regarding the preparation of project documentation for reconstruction of Velika Plana Nis railway

Velika Plana Nis railway

construction of Velika Plana Nis railway

European Union Project Preparation Facilities

EU PPF

Zorana Mihajlovic

reconstruction of navigation lock at HPP Djerdap 1

modernization of Velika Plana Nis railway

Miroljub Jevtic

Sem Fabrizi

Jadranka Joksimovic

conference EU for You For a Modern and Sustainable Serbia

modernization of Nis Brestovac railway