Much to the joy of the people of Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik-Neretva County, and Croatia as a whole, a prefeasibility study has shown that the Pelješac Bridge is the best solution for Croatia — from the point of view of territorial continuity and connecting the far South with the mainland — and, moreover, for the EU.

Croatia has since sent the Commission the final drafts of two operational programmes; and more than EUR 3.5 million is earmarked under the ‘Competitiveness and Cohesion’ programme for environmental protection, climate change adaptation, and transport infrastructure. However, according to the information available, the operational programmes do not explicitly mention construction of the Pelješac Bridge, but refer instead to south Dalmatian road links. This is causing great concern in southern Croatia.

Given that the Croatian Government has not supplied complete information to the public, can the Commission say what stage has been reached in the European Pelješac Bridge project and whether the Croatian managing bodies have drawn up a full feasibility study, a cost-benefit analysis, and other documents needed for the building work to restart?

Can it say in addition which fund might be used to enable construction of the Pelješac Bridge to get under way and what sort of groundwork the Croatian Government and ministries might be called upon to do at this stage of the project?