July 12 (SeeNews) - Serbian infrastructure minister Zorana Mihajlovic said the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the World Bank are interested in financing the construction of a motorway that will link the city of Nis with Pristina in Kosovo via Merdare.
In addition to funding the construction of the Nis-Pristina motorway, the Serbian government will also hold talks with the three banks on the possibilities for financing of regional roads and railway lines during the Western Balkan summit in Trieste, on July 12, Mihajlovic said in a video file posted on the website of the ministry on Tuesday.
Serbia has been in talks with the World Bank for financing the reconstruction of regional roads and railway lines for six months now and expects positive results in the autumn, Mihajlovic said.
In March, Mihajlovic said the construction of the Nis-Merdare-Pristina motorway was proposed by prime minister Aleksandar Vucic as part of the Berlin Process diplomatic initiative, which aims the improvement of the cooperation between Western Balkan countries.
The construction of the 77 km-long motorway, which is part of a project stretching to Albanian capital Tirana and the Adriatic port of Durres, is funded by the European Fund for the Balkans.
In September 2016, Mihajlovic said the Nis-Merdare-Pristina motorway is planned to be completed by 2020.