The 2.4km bridge will connect the southern peninsula of Peljesac with the Croatian mainland as part of a larger scheme that also includes roads to improve connectivity in the region.

In mid-February, prime minister Andrej Plenkovic’s cabinet approved the country’s share the bridge’s finance. Plenkovic has now told cabinet members that the European Commission will complete its procedures for financing the project on 7 June. Croatia is expecting the European Commission to finance 85% of the project’s US$474 million value.

"We will absorb €357m [US$403 million] from the EU and EU budget and the project will be implemented at three stages," Plenkovic told the government.