The Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG), which borders Slovenia, asked for more details concerning the environmental impact of the doubling of the Divača-Koper line. “The Region considers that technical investigations into the documentation received from Slovenia are necessary”, the region claimed.
FVG is asking for more detailed information to be included in the cross-border environmental impact assessment, especially when it comes to the waterways in the Karst Plateau. The assessment was launched by the Italian Ministry of Environment on 24 March. The document gathered the views of the FVG region and other local and national environmental agencies.
“The proposed project affects areas with a particular natural vocation, such as the Rosandra Valley, and could lead to environmental impacts also on the regional territory if specific precautionary measures are not taken”, the region added. The Karst Plateau is shared between Italy and Slovenia, hence the concern raised by the Italian region. Most of the concerns revolve around safeguarding the fauna and flora in the area which might be affected by the implementation of the new line.
Doubling of the Divača-Koper line
Doubling the line between Divača and the port of Koper is one of the main rail projects in Slovenia as it crosses the Baltic-Adriatic and the Mediterranean TEN-T Corridors. This upgrade should give a significant boost to rail freight to and from the country’s largest port. The initiative entails the construction of a new double-track line stretching for 27 kilometres. One year ago, the Slovenian government reassessed the funds needed for the project, reducing them from 1,150 to 1,109 billion euros. Roughly a quarter of the investment will be covered by the European Investment Bank. Among the most recent developments concerning the project was the inauguration of the Vinjan viaduct.