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With £358 million invested, the Pelješac Bridge connected Croatia and eliminated borders, but it was China, not the European Union, that took the credit. This megaproject reveals how Beijing is expanding its influence in the Balkans and challenging European hegemony on its home turf.
In the stunning landscape of southern Croatia, an imposing bridge rises above turquoise waters, connecting lands that have been separated for centuries. But the Pelješac Bridge is not only an extraordinary feat of engineering; it also symbolizes a shift in the geopolitical landscape of Europe. Built by a Chinese state-owned company with funding from the European Union, its opening in 2022 has sparked a debate about China’s growing influence in the Balkans. After all, while the money came from the EU, the credit for the construction goes largely to Beijing.
The Pelješac Bridge, an engineering and geopolitical landmark
The Pelješac Bridge, a whopping 2,4 kilometers long, solves a long-standing logistical problem for Croatia. Before its construction, access to the south of the country, including the popular tourist destination of Dubrovnik, required crossing a short stretch of Bosnian territory, with border controls that delayed goods and travelers. Now, the bridge offers a direct route, eliminating barriers and boosting the regional economy.
The project was funded with €420 million (£358 million) from the European Union, but its construction was carried out by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), a Chinese state-owned construction giant. This detail has not gone unnoticed. BBC journalist Katya Adler described the bridge as a sign of China’s growing presence in the Balkans, raising the question: is Europe losing influence in its own backyard?
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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang was keen to highlight the project as a symbol of friendship between China and Croatia, and by extension, between China and the EU. Beijing saw the project as an opportunity to strengthen strategic ties in the region, reinforcing its Belt and Road Initiative, an ambitious infrastructure investment plan that seeks to expand China's presence globally.
The Balkans and China's Strategy
The Balkans have been a key focus of China's economic expansion strategy. From highways to railways to power plants, Beijing has invested billions to consolidate its presence. The region, historically considered Europe's "forgotten frontier," has become a centerpiece of China's long-term plans to increase its commercial and diplomatic influence.
Chinese involvement has divided opinion in Europe. For some, projects such as the Pelješac Bridge represent welcome opportunities for investment and infrastructure modernization. For others, they raise alarms about the growing dependence on Chinese financing and technology, which could jeopardize European autonomy in strategic sectors.
Brussels, for its part, is walking a fine line. While it wants to boost development in the Balkans to ensure stability in the region, on the other hand, it fears that Beijing's influence will grow to the point of diluting European control over its own economies.
Economic and strategic impacts of the bridge
According to Express Co, the opening of the Pelješac Bridge has already transformed the Croatian economy. Tourism companies, hotels and restaurants have seen an increase in visitor flows now that Dubrovnik has become more accessible. Agricultural products from the Pelješac Peninsula, famous for its vineyards and seafood, are now reaching markets in Croatia and beyond more quickly.
The bridge also boosted the peninsula's real estate sector, making it more attractive to investors and residents, as well as make life easier for workers who previously faced long journeys.
