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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Improving navigability of Danube according to highest international standards

Belgrade, 18 July 2024

The Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, the Ministry of European Integration and the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed today in the government of Serbia the Agreement on the Investment Framework Grant for the Western Balkans, worth €16 million for the project to recover 21 ships of the German fleet sunk in the Danube during World War II.

The contract was signed by Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesić, Minister for European Integration Tanja Miščević and Vice President of the European Investment Bank Robert De Groot, in the presence of Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia Emanuele Giaufret.

Vesić said that the removal of the first four ships will begin immediately, and that the work will be completed by the end of this year.

Miščević pointed out that removing the sunken German fleet from the Danube enables the navigability of this river according to the highest international standards, with a significant improvement of river traffic, as well as better environmental protection due to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, because water transport will be much more intensive than is now.

She added that the total value of the project is approximately €31 million, so the rest of the money will be secured through a favorable loan from the European Investment Bank.