Romania and Bulgaria plan a third Danube bridge using EU funds, despite past delays and differing strategic views.
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The Danube connects ten countries across 2800 kilometers with 133 bridges; Romania and Bulgaria currently have only two bridges connecting their 406-kilometer shared border. The first Romanian-Bulgarian bridge, Friendship Bridge, was built 70 years ago and is undergoing renovation by both countries this year. Due to reasons prompting better and more extensive connections, the push for new bridge construction has increased in Romania in 2024, supported by European Union Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) funding. CEF supports infrastructure projects contributing to the European Green Deal. The planned new crossing would connect Giurgiu and Russe, which are already linked by the existing two bridges, though the exact location is undecided as the project is still in early preparatory stages. Optimistically, construction could begin in Romania by 2027, while Bulgaria decides how to integrate the Giurgiu-Russe 2 bridge into its network. A typical large bridge takes at least ten years from concept to completion, citing examples like the Vidin–Calafat and Brăilai bridges. The Romanian-Bulgarian cooperation on the third Danube bridge is expected to be challenging despite mutual interest in faster connection. Bulgaria initially questioned the location of a new bridge where one already exists, suggesting a need to connect its underdeveloped northern regions instead, while also considering military strategy against potential Russian attacks. Romania argued that Giurgiu and Russe are major border towns with easy access to Bucharest, and increased traffic necessitates supplementing existing single-lane bridges. Meanwhile, Hungary has recently completed the Tomori Pál bridge connecting Paks and Kalocsa and plans a significant expansion of its Danube crossings by 2031. Currently, Hungary has 20 Danube bridges, eight in Budapest, compared to Austria’s 30 important ones and nearly 60 on the German stretch from the source to Passau.
