Support of EU for Rehabilitation of Five Regional Railroads – Serbia Getting Closer to Full Harmonization with European Transport Regulations

Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesic talked yesterday in Brussels with European Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean about the harmonization of regulations with those of the European Union in that field and joint projects.

Addressing the journalists after the meeting, Vesic pointed out that six laws and two by-laws will be adopted during the year, and our legislation will be fully harmonized with European regulations and standards in the field of transport, as announced on the website of the Government of Serbia.

At the meeting, as he reported, other projects for which the EU provides grants were discussed, namely the rehabilitation and electrification of five regional railways in Serbia, 588 kilometers long. As eKapija learns, these are the following rail routes: Belgrade-Pancevo-Vrsac, Pancevo-Zrenjanin-Novi Becej-Kikinda, Vrbas-Sombor, railroad to the BiH border on the route to Bijeljina, Kraljevo-Raska-administrative line with Kosovo and Metohija.

In order for the joint projects of the EU and Serbia to be implemented, Vesic proposed for a joint committee to be organized, which would meet once a month, follow the projects and accelerate their realization, whereas a sector for traffic safety would be established within the competent ministry.

To clarify, the EU’s report on the progress of Serbia says that road and rail safety has been noticed as a big problem in Serbia, since 30% more people lose their lives on roads in Serbia than in the EU, the minister noted.

Vlada Republike Srbije

Ministarstvo građevinarstva, saobraćaja i infrastrukture Republike Srbije

Government of Serbia

Ministry of Construction European Commission

Goran Vesic

Adina Valean

EU regulations

EU standards

field of transport

rail law

interoperability of the rail system

safety of rail traffic

regional railways

joint committee

Belgrade Pancevo Vrsac

Pancevo Zrenjanin Novi Becej Kikinda

Vrbas Sombor railroad to the BiH border on the route to Bijeljina

Kraljevo Raska administrative line with Kosovo and Metohija