Lifestyle

Šibenik and County are Examples of Smart Use of EU Funds

By 7 October 2019

Šibenik and its surroundings within the wider Šibenik-Knin County are an area for the possible extension of the implementation of the Integrated Territorial Investment Mechanism in the financial period from 2021 to 2027.

As Lucija Spiljak/Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 6th of October, 2019, the past weekend in Sibenik was marked by European Union funds as part of a three-day event organised by the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds, which presented more than 300 people in the Amadria Park tourist resort with results and good examples of using funds to change Croatia for the better.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković opened the Days of Regional Development and EU Funds on Saturday, pointing out that when taking over the EU Funds management system, Croatia was only at nine percent of the projects contracted, and it is now, rather encouragingly, at 75 percent.

Minister for Regional Development and EU Funds, Marko Pavić, visited the EU Funds Fair, where 38 Croatian OPGs and entrepreneurs who have been fund beneficiaries presented themselves.

"We have been paid 22 billion kuna so far. EU funds improve health care and 1.7 billion kuna has been invested in hospitals and equipment, more than one billion kuna has been invested in transport infrastructure, and Pelješac bridge, worth 365 million kuna, is a permanent ''monument'' to this.

''EU funds are also changing education in Croatia, and as such, more than one billion kuna has been invested in the e-school program, and 680 million kuna in curricular reform. 6.5 million kuna has been allocated to employment, so EU funds are also contributing to young people staying in Croatia,'' Pavić said.

He is optimistic about the financial period from 2021 to 2027, when one of the goals will be, as he announced, a simpler application procedure. The City of Šibenik is one of the most positive examples of the use of EU funds and a pioneer in the restoration of cultural heritage in Croatia.

They restored the fortresses of St. Michael (Mihovil) and Barone, making Šibenik the only city in Croatia with two cultural monuments that are inscribed on UNESCO's prestigious list of protected monuments. The fortress of St. John, a project worth 41.5 million kuna, expected to be completed by the summer of 2021.

"Thanks to EU funds and cooperation with various ministries, the economy, tourism, and the education system have developed, new jobs have started to be created and it's becoming easier to attract young people, and in the future. we'll focus even more on helping young families,'' said Šibenik's mayor, Zeljko Buric.

Money from EU funds is being invested directly in the entire area of Šibenik-Knin County, stated Mayor Goran Pauk, and the projects are either implemented, are currently underway, or are being prepared.

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