EIB Says Did Not Fund Either Belgrade-Novi Sad Railway or Renovation of Train Station

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The European Investment Bank (EIB) was not involved in financing construction works on the Belgrade-Novi Sad railway nor the central train station in Novi Sad, the Bank said in a March 21 response to Forbes Serbia.

When asked whether the EIB had provided any loan for these purposes, the Bank stated that in 2013, as part of a joint advisory program with the European Commission JASPERS (Joint Assistance to Support Projects in European Regions), technical assistance was provided for the revision of a feasibility study for the Novi Sad-Subotica and Stara Pazova-Novi Sad railway sections.

"The Novi Sad station building was not included in this review," the EIB claimed, adding that the technical assistance was discontinued in mid-2015 because the project was transferred to "other parties."

The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), led by Laura Kovesi, announced last week that it was investigating the possible misuse of the European Union’s funds in the case of the reconstruction of the Novi Sad train station. The investigation was launched after a concrete overhang collapsed at the Novi Sad trains station, killing 16 people and seriously injuring one person. Kovesi explained that the EPPO was reviewing all EU funds involved in the reconstruction of both the rail line and the station, and that it was in contact with the European Commission and the European Investment Bank.