Orient/East-Med Corridor in Kosovo* includes Pristina to Merdare E80/R7 road section, which continues into Serbia, via Nis, and then further to the Black Sea countries, as well as to Albania, up to Durres Port on the Adriatic. Also known as part of the 'Peace Highway', this road interconnection is of great importance for freight and passenger transport in the Western Balkans being the region’s shortest route from Durres Port to South-Eastern and Central Europe as well as to the Black Sea.
The existing Pristina - Merdare route is a two lanes road, inconsistently maintained, and prone to bottlenecks. The assistance provided through WBIF has been instrumental in identifying the investment needs and financing the preparation of the technical documentation for the expansion of existing infrastructure into a 23 km-long dual carriageway from Pristina to the border crossing point in Merdare.
This WBIF technical assistance grant finances the preparation of the Tender Dossier and Supervision of Works for the Pristina - Merdare section.
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence
