Croatia Completes Strategic A5 Motorway to Hungary

The news in Croatian

1. autocesta  (f.)
   veliki put namijenjen brzom prometu vozila ↩︎
2. povezivati
   spajati dvije ili više stvari u cjelinu ↩︎
3. smanjivati
   činiti nešto manjim ili kraćim ↩︎
4. jačanje  (n.)
   proces povećanja snage ili moći ↩︎
5. ekonomski
   koji se odnosi na gospodarstvo ili ekonomiju ↩︎
6. odnos  (m.)
   veza ili povezanost između dviju ili više stvari ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: What two countries are connected by the new A5 motorway?

Question 2: What city benefits from reduced travel time to Budapest due to the new motorway?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
autocesta  (f.)	motorway
povezivati	connect
smanjivati	reduce
jačanje  (n.)	strengthening
ekonomski	economic
odnos  (m.)	relationship

Read the full story

The final segment of the A5 Motorway connecting Croatia to Hungary was inaugurated on Monday, marking the completion of Croatia’s section of the Paneuropean Corridor Vc. This crucial event was attended by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and other high-ranking officials, celebrating the development as a critical economic artery for the region.

A span of 88.6 kilometres now links Beli Manastir in Croatia directly to the Hungarian border, reducing travel time between Osijek and Budapest to nearly two hours by car. This development is seen as an essential progression in fostering economic ties within Central Europe.

Prime Minister Plenković highlighted the motorway’s potential to enhance economic exchanges and strengthen political relations between Croatia and Hungary. He noted that while this is a significant accomplishment for Croatia, there are still 200 kilometres of the corridor left to be constructed in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), which, when completed, will further bolster regional connectivity.

During the opening ceremony, Plenković addressed the absence of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, citing conflicting obligations as the reason. Despite this, Plenković emphasised the importance of progressing with opening the motorway, underlining that it is not only an infrastructural milestone but also a symbol of regional cooperation.

The motorway, also known as the “lifeline of economic development,” is expected to enhance trade and transit across the region. The completion of this project involved significant investment, with over €815 million dedicated to its construction. Though the motorway is now operational, the toll system on this new segment is pending further implementation.

The celebratory event was attended by several dignitaries including Croatia’s Minister of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, Oleg Butković, who praised the motorway as a testament to Croatia’s commitment to upgrading its transport infrastructure. He elaborated on plans to expand into high-speed roads and further invest in railway infrastructure as part of Croatia’s long-term strategy.

Butković also mentioned that this successful completion highlights Croatia’s role in connecting Central Europe, showcasing a strategic infrastructure project that has been in the making since the early 2000s.

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