The Rumours Are True
Belgrade, 2016

It is claimed that Belgrade Waterfront, an ultramodern construction project on the inner city banks of the River Sava, will transform the Serbian capital into a global metropolis within the next 30 years. It is supposed to generate multifaceted opportunities in the realms of commerce, places to live and work as well as transport and leisure. This development is intended to attract the interest of foreign investors and create an international hub for business. Alongside investment by the Serbian government, the Abu Dhabi based real-estate company, Eagle Hills, will contribute 68% to the €3.5 billion project. The promise is that this will benefit the economy through new jobs. However, it is unclear whether this influx of money will have any real impact on most ordinary people in Belgrade, who on average earned €400 per month in 2016. The plans will influence the entire infrastructure of the city. The new 'quarter' will further gentrify Savamala, one of Belgrade’s oldest districts, whose residents will be uprooted and smaller businesses evicted. Social segregation can already be seen in the eviction of the refugee camp Miksalište. Critics fear that the project will infringe citizens’ rights, breaking laws and violating the constitution. The question arises whether the project is socially acceptable, given that it has been extensively financed from the national budget.

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