The Construction of highway Nis-Merdare (Peace highway), connecting Nis and Pristina will enhance socio-economic development of the entire region and contribute to faster and safer movement of goods and people. enhance security of supply and market integration, connecting Southeast Europe region with Italy. For the construction of the first phase, from Nis to Plocnik (34km), the € 40 million grant funds provided through the WBIF, together with the € 180 million loans from EIB and EBRD. Works commenced beginning of December 2021.
„The Peace Highway“ will connect people, towns, but also businesses and is a chance for economic progress in the Southern Serbia, this is one of the conclusion after the start of works on the first part of the project. Once the project is completed, the time for travel between Nis and Merdare will be around 45 minutes.
“Peace Highway” is one of the investment flagships projects within the EU’s Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans. The plan is supporting major road and railway connections in order to support the better connection between the economies of the Western Balkans within the region and with the EU. The highway will continue to Merdare in the next phase the cost of the complete road is expected to be around 650 million EUR.
Global Gateway, the new European Strategy to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and transport and strengthen health, education and research systems across the world, the European Commission announced recently. It stands for sustainable and trusted connections that work for people and the planet, to tackle the most pressing global challenges, from climate change and protecting the environment, to improving health security and boosting competitiveness and global supply chains.
Global Gateway aims to mobilise up to €300 billion in investments between 2021 and 2027 to underpin a lasting global recovery, taking into account our partners needs and EU’s own interests.
https://europa.rs/peace-highway-much-more-than-a-road/?lang=en