Giaufret: Peace Highway to be backbone of regional road network

MEROSINA - The head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Emanuele Giaufret said on Wednesday a Peace Highway should be a road to stability and reconciliation in the region and that it would connect southern Serbia with the Western Balkan road network.

After inspecting the route's first section from Nis to Merdare with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Giaufret said that, to him, building roads was a symbol of European integration.

He said the road primarily represented a transport route, but also a connection between people in the region.

"We want roads to be a symbol of peace and stability in the region," he said, adding that the motorway would connect southern Serbia with the Western Balkan road network and enable free movement of people, goods and capital from Nis via Pristina to Tirana, and beyond.

He said the 5.5 km motorway section was the first segment of a much larger project that would connect Nis and other cities in that part of Serbia with the Adriatic and Durres.

He said the EU was proud to be carrying out the project with partners in the EBRD and representatives of the central and local authorities in Serbia.

He said the construction of the motorway was a part of a more comprehensive EU plan for the Western Balkans that aimed to mobilise up to 30 bln euros for major infrastructure projects by 2027.