The Pelješac Bridge was built in the interest of Croatia.
The Pelješac Bridge opened Tuesday night in Croatia with a big party and fireworks. The bridge over Mali Ston Bay allows for the first time a direct land connection from the mainland via the Pelješac peninsula to southern Dalmatia.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković spoke of a historic day for Croatia, carrying out a national, strategic and all-Croatian project. “We have made the Croatian dream come true,” Plenković said at the inauguration ceremony, noting that the bridge now connects southern Dalmatia to the rest of the country.
Referring to the significant funding from the EU fund, Plenković emphasized the Union's principle of solidarity, which helps less developed Member States. He stressed that Croatia wants to use its EU membership in the best way. The bridge is also a project that has linked Croatia to China, the Croatian prime minister added.
In his speech, Croatian President Zoran Milanović also referred to protests in the neighboring country that have accompanied the construction of the bridge over concerns for unimpeded access to the sea. “The Pelješac Bridge was built for the sake of Croatia and its people, but never to the detriment or adversity of anyone, especially Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he said.
European Commission Vice-President Dubravka Šuica, herself from Dubrovnik in southern Dalmatia, congratulated Croatia on the successful completion of the largest Union-funded infrastructure project in the newest EU country. For the project with an investment volume of EUR 525 million, the EU contributed EUR 357 million from the Cohesion Fund. The deputy commissioner said the bridge was a symbol of European values, solidarity and support among EU members.
China
The bridge was built by the Chinese construction company China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRCB), which is why Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, speaking via video message, described it as a symbol of friendship between China and Croatia. The bridge also reflects cooperation between China and the EU, Li said. He stressed that the Chinese construction company won fair market competition from the EU to build the bridge. He expressed the hope that this project will not only strengthen relations and cooperation between China and Croatia, but also relations and cooperation between China and the EU.
