EU interest creates change of pace

Dubrovnik has found itself in the middle of a multinational debate over the last few days. The planned motorway, the so called Adriatic-Ionian highway, which has been started and when completed will pass through Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania before ending up in Greece is currently the centre of attention of not only the countries in the region but also the EU.The Croatian Prime Minister, Zoran Milanović, met with the leaders of Montenegro, Albanian and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Cavtat, near Dubrovnik, on Monday to discuss this subject. “The Adriatic-Ionian Motorway project is the common interest of four countries which has not been realised yet. It is important for Croatia as a continuation of a route that connects this region, but it is also important for Montenegro, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and for Kosovo too,” commented Milanović. He added that “They are full only three or four months a year, while during the rest of the year they are empty. Croatia has a population of only 4.3 million, and not 12 million, which means that there are not enough of us to use the motorways all year round.”The actual route of the proposed highway through the Dubrovnik County has proved a hot topic. The latest route sees the highway passing behind through Bosnia and Herzegovina with connections running down to Dubrovnik and to the airport. Although this solution seems the most financially viable it is sure to bring so friction from some Croatian political parties.And although the Croatian government has been accused of dragging their feet with the completion of the highway down to Dubrovnik, when compared to the rest of the region they are top of the class. Croatia has completed 90 percent of their share of the Adriatic-Ionian highway, far more than any other country in the region. However with the German Chancellor showing a keen interest in the project at a recent summit in Dubrovnik there has clearly been a change of speed with the countries involved. The highway, when completed, will be an important link between western and central Europe and should help with the economic development of south-east Europe. The planned opening of the Adriatic-Ionian motorway is in 2050.