The secretariat of the PEMT -06 conference issued a press release on Sunday saying that transport infrastructure experts from several European countries had agreed that Bosnia should prepare a study as soon as possible for the demarcation of the sea border line with Croatia in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
They also propose that Sarajevo elaborate a study on the development of the only Bosnian coastal town of Neum.
The conference was organised by the IPSA Institute, based in Sarajevo. It is a private and independent consulting company.
In 2005, Croatia's Prime Minister Ivo Sanader formally opened construction works on what is to be the longest bridge in Croatia, one that will connect the southern Peljesac peninsula to the mainland. The purpose of the bridge is to connect the southernmost part of Croatia, cut off from the rest of the country at Neum, where neighbouring Bosnia-Herzegovina has a narrow outlet to the Adriatic Sea.
Croatian Transport Minister Bozidar Kalmeta met his Bosnian counterpart Branko Dokic in Sarajevo in mid-May to discuss plans for the construction of the Komarno-Peljesac bridge.
After the talks, the Croatian minister told the press that a bascule bridge seemed to be the likeliest solution so that Bosnia could have access to the high seas.
Croatia and Bosnia are expected to reach final agreement on the project within next month, Kalmeta said after the two countries' experts groups discussed the matter on 15 May.
He added that the Bosnian delegation explained that it would like to ensure unobstructed passage to Neum Bay for ships up to 200 metres long. These ships can have different heights, depending on whether they are cargo vessels or tourist cruisers.
Croatia has two proposals which can make it possible for Bosnia to have unobstructed access to the high seas -- the construction of a fixed bridge with a height of 40 metres or the construction of a bascule bridge.
According to Kalmeta, the latter solution is likelier.