The ceremony was also attended by the Minister of Infrastructure, Alenka Bratušek, the Governor of Carinthia, Peter Kaiser, and the Chairman of the Board of the Motorway Company of the Republic of Slovenia – DARS, David Skornšek.

The breakthrough of the second tunnel tube is an important step in the construction of the second tunnel tube, which plays an important symbolic and real connecting role between the neighbouring countries of Austria and Slovenia. The construction of the additional tube will make traffic flow faster and safer, increasing its capacity and bringing it in line with the latest trends in road infrastructure.

"The breakthrough of both the first and second tubes is much more than a symbolic event – it represents breaking a chain, one of the longest chains in Europe, a chain that, sadly, used to divide our nation’s people. Every breakthrough and every connection in this chain is an act of national importance, an act of state-building, which makes this day all the more special," said Prime Minister Robert Golob at today’s ceremony.

Opened on 1 June 1991, the Karavanke motorway tunnel is the only single-tube tunnel in the Slovenian motorway network and the longest Slovenian road tunnel. "The Karavanke tunnel was opened just three weeks before the final act of declaring independence and there is no greater symbolism than that. When we were gaining our political independence, laying the foundations of our country and integrating into Europe and the world, we were also connecting through the Karavanke tunnel," the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister pointed out that by the end of construction, 2300 tonnes of steel will have been installed in the Karavanke tunnel, which is equivalent to the weight of the Eiffel Tower. "Our 'tower' will lie under the mountain, but this is, after all, the symbolism of Slovenia’s people. We value our mountains, and it is not unusual for us to put our Eiffel Tower under a mountain, and for it to have political, economic and logistical value. Slovenians know how to live with mountains and know that they are one of the most challenging ecosystems. We know how to live with them and conquer them," added the Prime Minister, who also thanked the contractor, the Turkish company Cengiz.

However, the tunnel is not yet finished. The next step is to complete the excavation and other construction work, which is expected by the end of November, after which the electrical equipment will be installed. The new tunnel is expected to open to traffic in autumn 2027.

On the occasion of the ceremony, Prime Minister Golob also met with Peter Kaiser, the Governor of Carinthia.