New motorway links Hungary to Croatia connecting the Danube with the Adriatic – photos

The connection of Hungary’s M6 motorway with Croatia’s A5 motorway has healed a long-standing wound inflicted by the turbulent 20th century in the region, particularly affecting Hungary and Croatia. János Lázár, Hungary’s Minister of Construction and Transport, highlighted this at the opening ceremony of the final completed sections between Budapest and Osijek near Beli Manastir in Croatia.

Healing wounds and boosting growth in Central Europe and the Balkans

The minister emphasised that Central and Southeast Europe’s last century was marred by wars.

“This era is finally about healing those wounds. The depth of those wounds is evident in how long it has taken for recovery,” Lázár noted.

He explained that this healing required Hungary’s liberation from communist rule, the rebirth of historic European states such as Croatia following the breakup of Yugoslavia, and membership for both countries in the European Union and the Schengen Area. Now, the focus must shift to economic growth, strengthening social ties, and revitalising the entire region, enabling Central and Southeast Europe to contribute to the revitalisation of the whole European Union.

Connecting the Danube to the Adriatic

Lázár pointed out that linking the M6 and A5 motorways is not only important for these two nations but also vital for Europe as a whole. “This motorway is perhaps the most crucial part of the European rail and road corridor linking the Baltic and Black Sea regions—or, more narrowly, Central Europe with the Balkans. To put it simply: the Danube to the Adriatic.”

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He described this project as restoring lifeblood to a region that, a century ago during peaceful times, was one of Europe’s fastest-growing and most prosperous intellectual and economic unions. He criticised the West as currently struggling, having lost much of its strength and creativity, with dwindling competitiveness and waning influence.

Europe’s urgent need for renewal

Lázár added that Europe watches passively as the New World, particularly the USA, regains strength, while economic powerhouses such as China, India, and Brazil surge ahead. Meanwhile, Europe falls behind, entangled in ideological battles and sanctioning its own member states rather than countering external rivals.

For Europe to regain its former glory, it must show greater respect and openness towards Central and Southeast Europe and draw inspiration for renewal from nations such as Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Croatia that still preserve traditional European lifestyles and values.

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Hungary’s commitment to the EU

“Although Hungarians often argue with Brussels, we have repeatedly stated—and I gladly repeat it here at this thoroughly European event—that our aim is not to leave or dismantle the Union, but to change it,” Lázár stressed.

To achieve this, he said Hungary must fully exploit its geographic, geopolitical, cultural, intellectual, and economic potential through intelligent cooperation and small unions within the larger EU framework.

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Infrastructure as a foundation

He emphasised that building the Union requires roads and cross-border infrastructure investments. Since 2010, Hungary has built as many motorways and highways relative to its population as the most developed Western countries.

Hungary has invested approximately 4,200 billion forints (over 10.5 billion euros) in road development since 2010, creating or upgrading around 1,000 kilometres of expressways, the minister said. Sovereign and patriotic economic policy for Hungary means openness in all directions—West, East, North, and South—rather than isolation.

Hungary now has ten motorways reaching its borders

When the Fidesz-KDNP government took office in 2010, only three motorways reached the national border. With the new motorway, that number rises to ten.

“The border behind us no longer separates but connects us, Croatians and Hungarians. Let us cross it, draw closer together, and strengthen our cooperation. Let us rebuild our small union within the larger Union and perhaps help the entire European community regain new strength,” Lázár concluded.

Croatian perspective and minority voices

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković highlighted Croatia’s clear Central European and Danube-region identity, underlining this bond with Hungary throughout history and into the future.

At the ceremony, Róbert Jankovics, the parliamentary representative of Hungarians in Croatia, reflected on how, in 2016, the Democratic Community of Hungarians in Croatia advocated for this road through the Baranja region to be constructed as a motorway rather than as a main road, as previously planned by the left-wing government.

“Nine years later, this goal has been realised. Today, we inaugurate a motorway of great importance to the Hungarian minority, particularly the community in Baranja,” he said.