Agreement signed on 175 mln euro EIB grant for Belgrade-Nis high-speed rail line

BELGRADE - The Serbian government and the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed on Thursday an agreement on a 175 mln euro grant for the construction of a Belgrade-Nis high-speed rail line.

The amount is the second tranche of a 600 mln euro EU grant for the project.

At a ceremony also attended by Serbian PM Ana Brnabic and the head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Emanuele Giaufret, the document was signed by EIB Vice President for the Western Balkans Lilyana Pavlova, Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesic, European Integration Minister Tanja Miscevic and Railways of Serbia Infrastructure General Manager Nebojsa Surlan.

Previously, a 265 mln euro EIB grant was provided for the crucial infrastructure project.

EIB representatives said financial assistance for the investment totalled 1.1 bln euros.

The signing of the agreement was preceded by a meeting of EIB representatives with Brnabic, Vesic, Miscevic and Health Minister Danica Grujicic.

They continued the discussions with Vesic after the signing ceremony.