ZAGREB, April 5, 2019 - Agreements granting the Health Ministry a total of 45 million kuna from EU funds for the purchase of six speed boats for the provision of emergency medical aid along the Adriatic and twelve biochemical blood analysers for emergency diagnosis on the islands, were signed at the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds on Friday.

The funds will be used to procure speed boats, ensure berths in home ports and purchase blood analysers that can quickly determine whether a patient needs to be transferred to a hospital on the mainland, it was said at the signing ceremony.

The boats will be stationed on the islands of Mali Lošinj and Rab, in Zadar, Šibenik, Supetar and Dubrovnik and will serve all inhabited islands, with a total population of 122,000, and visitors during the tourist season.

The agreements were signed by Health Minister Milan Kujundžić, Regional Development and EU Funds Minister Gabrijela Žalac and the head of the Central Finance and Contracting Agency, Tomislav Petrić.

The speed boats and blood analysers will significantly improve emergency treatment of patients on the islands and facilitate the work of physicians in establishing a diagnosis and deciding on the condition of patients, Minister Kujundžić said and added that he expects the boats to be operational in two years’ time while the analysers could already be available at the start of this year's tourism season.

Minister Žalac expressed her satisfaction that the entire amount of 45 million kuna will be secured from the Competitiveness and Cohesion operational programme, noting that the number of agreements for European funding for healthcare infrastructure had accelerated this year and last.

"Together with the Health Ministry, we have advertised six of the planned calls for bids and contracted 51 projects amounting to 1.7 billion kuna, which is 85% of the envelope envisaged for the health sector in this financial period. We expect to contract the remaining 15% of the healthcare allocation by the end of the year," Žalac said.

Considering that emergency medical services have to be available to all citizens, Žalac announced the possibility of establishing a helicopter emergency medical service in the next financial period which would complement today's agreements and would facilitate the emergency medical care of patients on the islands.

More news about EU funds can be found in the Business section

ZAGREB, March 28, 2019 - An amount of 250 million euro was approved by the European Commission on Wednesday for the free distribution of fruit, vegetables and milk for 20 million children throughout the EU in the 2019/2020 school year.

The national budget allocations were adopted today. 145 million euro was set aside for fruit and vegetables, and €105 million for milk and other dairy products. The distribution programme is complemented by educational measures that teach children about agriculture and promotes healthy eating, the European Commission said in a press release.

Croatia will receive 1.66 million euro for fruit and vegetables and an additional 800,354 euro for milk.

According to the law that has been applicable since 1 August 2017, 2 previous schemes were combined under a single legal framework which is focused on an enhanced educational dimension.

Countries participating in the programme are expected to prepare strategy outlines for a period of 6 years, noting objectives and priorities, target groups (primary schools, for example), products (apples and carrots for example) and education activities (farm visits, school gardens, training).

"Thanks to the EU School Scheme, our young citizens can benefit from the nutritious, safe and high-quality food that our European farmers produce, while also learning about where it comes from. The Commission is proud to contribute to this important educational journey, establishing healthy habits from a young age," Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Phil Hogan said.

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ZAGREB, March 17, 2019 - The historic heart of the eastern Croatian city of Osijek is expected to get a two million euro visitor centre in two years' time, the head of the municipal department for EU programmes, Kornelija Mlinarević, announced at a press conference earlier this week.

Construction work is expected to begin this autumn. The visitor centre would offer at one place tourist information on the City of Osijek, Osijek-Baranja County and the wider region, and provide services such as parking spaces for cars and buses, shops with local, regional and national products, guided tours, and services for cycling tourists, Mlinarević said.

The Tvrđa project is expected to boost tourist numbers and employment in the tourism industry.

Mayor Ivan Vrkić said that the city government had so far invested 170 million kuna (23 million euro) in the Tvrđa project and would invest an additional 15 million kuna (2 million euro) in the visitor centre.

More Osijek news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

Istria is one of the most developed Croatian counties with a GDP of 24.9% above the Croatian average and an unemployment rate lower than the EU average. The rate of immigration to Istria is higher than the rate of emigration, which is why it is often called "little Ireland", reports Lokalni.hr on March 12, 2019.

The economic and social development of Istria is a consequence of the successful absorption of EU funds and, in general, excellent cooperation with different European regions and European institutions. “Users from Istria have so far participated in more than 60 different programmes and through nearly one thousand European projects they have secured 3.2 billion kuna in grants,” said Istrian County prefect Valter Flego.

According to available data, money from EU funds has been invested mostly in agriculture and fisheries, entrepreneurship, science and research, energy and environment, transport, culture and education, employment and promotion of gender equality. In addition to the European projects, Istria is also very successful in cross-border programmes through which beneficiaries from the county have absorbed as much as 215 million kuna.

“Istrian County has some form of formalised cooperation with as many as five Italian regions, and through the partnership with them we have implemented a number of projects in the fields of culture, tourism, environmental protection and transport,” explains Flego.

While Croatia, with an average absorption rate of 29 per cent of EU funds, is at the bottom of the EU rankings, Istrian County is exceptionally successful in this regard. Flego explains that this should be attributed to the fact that Istria has systematically worked on strengthening project implementation capacities and has invested heavily in education on EU policies and funds. Over the last few years, about 600 people from Istria have been trained. Also, the county is continually informing all potential beneficiaries about the possibilities of project financing.

“To ensure greater EU funds utilisation, counties must be involved in planning future operational plans, which has not been the case so far. Exclusion of counties has led to the fact that it is impossible to build new homes for seniors or necessary maritime port infrastructure with money from EU funds. I hope that we will be able to plan such projects in the next budgetary period from 2021 to 2028,” said Prefect Flego, adding that Croatia had available almost nine billion euros in that period.

“That money is waiting for someone to take it. I hope the state will be smart enough not to hinder us and allow us to withdraw that money. Besides, Croatia must decentralise the management of EU funds. Such a model provides a degree of autonomy and influence in the process of defining strategic priorities and project selection. Who knows better what is needed than the people who live and work in the region in question?” asked prefect Flego.

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Translated from Lokalni.hr (reported by Snježana Bičak).

ZAGREB, March 7, 2019 - During talks with European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Thursday in Brussels, Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović suggested that cohesion funds shouldn't be decreased in the next European budget.

"There was talk about the situation in Croatia but also about the multi-annual financial arrangement considering the current negotiations about that. Croatia has its interest concerning the efforts to retain funding for classic policies such as the Joint Agriculture Policy and Cohesion Policy," Grabar- Kitarović told reporters after meeting with the heads of European institutions.

The European Commission proposes the 10-percent reduction of funds in the next EU budget for the cohesion policy that is intended to decrease the difference in development of regions in the EU.

Grabar- Kitarović underscored that that it would be detrimental to Croatia if the national share in projects that are co-funded from EU funds were to be increased.

That would be detrimental, particularly in some areas that even with the current prescribed percentage (15%) cannot co-finance projects, the president said.

In its draft multi-annual financial framework for the period 2021 to 2027, the European Commission has proposed that the national share in co-financing projects be increased from the current 15% to 30%. Most member states in central and eastern Europe have voiced their objections to that proposal.

The Croatian head of state also discussed the Three Seas Initiative with the EU officials. "Both presidents offer full support, particularly for projects because the initiative is directed to cohesion of European space and promoting European ideas and values," she said.

During the talks with Juncker, Grabar- Kitarović discussed the coming EU-China summit scheduled for April 9 considering the fact of China's growing presence in Europe.

Asked whether there was any mention of the arbitration for the Slovenia-Croatia border row, the president said that they touched on that topic and that she expressed her dissatisfaction to Juncker about some statements made by some members of the Commission in that regard.

"I told President Juncker that some opinions and some statements coming from the Commission and some of its members are not directed at achieving a bilateral agreement between Slovenia and Croatia," Grabar - Kitarović said calling for the refraining from statements like that. "I am not referring to him (Juncker) personally but to some others," she said.

There was also talk on enlargement and the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. "Croatia advocates the policy of enlargement, based on absolute fulfilment of all the criteria," she said.

As far as Bosnia and Herzegovina is concerned, she said that she has more understanding for endeavours to change the electoral law.

More news on the EU funds can be found in Business section.

ZAGREB, March 7, 2019 - The next seven-year financial period in the European Union will be a continuation of greater co-financing for poorer regions whose GDP accounts for less than 75% of the EU average, and that includes Croatia, Vittoria Alliata di Villafranca, Director DG Regional and Urban Policy, said at a two-day international conference on EU funds which started in the northern Croatian town of Trakošćan on Wednesday.

The conference, focusing on the new financial period 2021-2027 and the experience of strategic development and implementation of EU projects of other EU member states, was organised by the PJR consulting company and drew more than 250 participants.

Alliata di Villafranca, who is one of the authors of new rules for the 2021-2027 financial period, held an introductory lecture on preparing for the cohesion policy in the new period.

She underscored that the cohesion policy had created more than 1.6 million jobs in the current financial period and that some of the challenges in the coming period included Brexit, security, controlling borders and climate change.

She announced that co-financing would continue for poorer regions that have a GDP that is less than 75% of the EU average, which also includes Croatia.

The European Union and European Commission wish to simplify the system so that states can work faster, however, the administration and legal framework of a member state often pose a problem. Croatia has to work to simplify the business environment which is good at the regional level, however, it is rather slow at the national level, she said.

Assistant Regional Development and EU Funds Minister Ana Odak spoke about the National Development Strategy for the period until 2030, underscoring that the main objective was to make order in the system of strategic planning.

The ministry's state-secretary, Spomenka Đurić, presented data on the absorption of EU funds stating that Croatia had signed contracts for 65% of the total allocation yet only 15% had been granted.

"The ministry is aware of the huge discrepancy however this and next year, it plans to make a large number of payments to beneficiaries. In the first two months of 2019, intensive payments have begun. In the past two years we focused mostly on contracting and now the implementation of most of the projects is starting," Djuric said.

The conference also heard about the experiences of Romania and Latvia regarding EU fund investments and the implementation of strategic projects.

More EU funds news can be found in the Business section.

ZAGREB, March 5, 2019 - European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu said in Dubrovnik on Tuesday that there is no danger for future EU projects in Croatia that would be financed from the Cohesion Fund following a reduction of budget funds, and Croatia's minister responsible for European funds, Grabrijela Žalac, said that Croatia had some objections to the European Commission's proposed budget for the period 2021-2027.

A ministerial conference of the group of "Friends of Cohesion - Cohesion Policy and Structural Reforms Post 2020", organised by the Ministry of Regional Development and European Union Funds, was held in Dubrovnik on Tuesday, with Žalac and Cretu attending.

Cretu said that the EC has proposed a reduction of 10% in funds for cohesion policy and that a total of 373 billion euro has been secured, which is more than ever.

There is no danger for future projects in Croatia due to the reduced funds. We will begin negotiations in March with all member states on their operational programmes. The Croatian government and regions have to prepare a strategy based on the funding they have available and the rate of co-financing, Cretu said.

Žalac said that Croatia, as the newest EU member state, is a recipient of European funds and that it has some objections to the European Commission's proposed multi-annual budget 2021-2027, which will increase the rate of co-financing from 15% to 30% while reducing the rate of pre-financing, and the deadline to implement projects will be reduced from three to two years.

"We want to discuss that in detail with EC representatives, particularly with the Directorate-General for Budget. Everyone should not be treated equally considering that Croatia only started to use the benefits of the cohesion policy two years ago and only now are the effects of that visible in the field. By the end of the year we need to adopt all the necessary regulations for the new financial perspective, and our EU presidency will be marked by the adoption of the European budget, Žalac said.

Last May the EC presented its proposal for the multi-annual budget for the period 2021-2027, which is larger than the present budget but foresees lower amounts for cohesion policy and agriculture. According to the proposal, Croatia would receive about 6% less than in the current multi-annual budget.

The purpose of the Dubrovnik conference, which brought together ministers and state-secretaries for regional development and EU funds of EU member states, was to exchange opinions on connections between cohesion policies and structural reforms in the period after 2020 and to find answers to key issues related to cohesion policy and the proposed multi-annual financial framework for the period following 2020.

The "Friends of Cohesion" group consists of 16 EU member states opposed to cut backs in cohesion funding in the new EU multi-annual budget, which is supposed to reduce the gap between wealthier and poorer EU countries. The group is made up of Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Italy, Portugal and Greece.

Cretu said that the conference discussed the future of the cohesion policy, what is important for Croatia, which has EUR 9.9 billion at its disposal for the 2021-2027 period, but also for Europe overall.

I recalled three key points in the EC's proposal through a simple and pragmatic approach. Above all, a more modern policy that focuses on the transition toward a 'smart economy' and a low-carbon economy and so the cohesion policy has to pass through all European regions preparing for that transition. We need an effective policy that requires public policy that will stimulate investment and innovation and an efficient administration, Cretu said.

She added that the cohesion policy should be simplified particularly with regard to the implementation of projects, and in that regard the European Commission proposes 80 various measures.

More news on EU funds can be found in the Business section.

ZAGREB, February 15, 2019 - With 8.5 billion kuna (1.15 billion euro) worth of EU-funded projects agreed in 2017 and 2018, the City of Zagreb takes the lead among Croatian regions in absorbing EU funds, followed by Dubrovnik-Neretva County with 4.4 billion kuna (595 million euro), the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds said on Friday.

The ministry said in a statement that a considerable increase in the number of EU-funded projects had been recorded in the term of the present government, adding that the total amount of the contracts agreed had increased from 985 million euro at the end of October 2016 to 6.75 billion euro, which is an increase of 585 percent.

Among these projects are the construction of the Pelješac Bridge, the upgrade of the Vinkovci-Vukovar railway line, the reconstruction and construction of the Dugo Selo-Križevci railway line, the modernisation of the tram infrastructure in Osijek, equipment for day hospitals and surgery wards, and projects relating to the Croatian Scientific and Educational Cloud, the Centre for Advanced Laser Techniques, the Institute of Physics and the Vučedol Archaeological Park.

More news on the EU funding in Croatia and other EU-related issues can be found in the Business section.

ZAGREB, February 12, 2019 - Twenty projects relating to environment and nature protection and climate action were presented at a conference in Zagreb on Tuesday. The environment projects are worth over 14 million euro, of which nine million is provided by the European Union.

The LIFE conference is organised by the Environment and Energy Ministry as a national contact point for the EU's LIFE Programme, State Secretary Mario Šiljeg said.

The purpose of the conference is to show that LIFE-funded projects are among the best ways to improve the implementation of environment and climate policies and a mechanism to achieve European and national goals.

The EU launched the LIFE Programme in 1992 to address challenges to the environment, nature and climate, and Croatia recognised its value even before it joined the EU. "This is not surprising given that the programme encourages an innovative approach and the application of new measures and methods," Šiljeg said.

As part of the LIFE Programme in Croatia, efforts are being made to protect the Drava river and its backwaters, improve biodiversity in wetlands, protect large wild animals such as lynx and bear, and take action against bird poaching.

"I am confident that all projects that are being implemented under the LIFE Programme will contribute to economic growth and sustainable development," Šiljeg said. "I am sure that already in April we will see progress in the participation of Croatian business entities in LIFE projects."

This year's tender for the LIFE Programme is expected to be opened in April and all those interested were invited to contact the Environment and Energy Ministry.

More news on the environmental protection in Croatia can be found in the Lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, February 1, 2019 – Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Thursday visited the construction site of the Pelješac bridge in southern Croatia, saying works were proceeding very well, faster than envisaged, and that the bridge should be completed in three years' time.

"The final deadline for the completion of all access roads and the Pelješac bridge is 31 January 2022," he told reporters, adding that pylons were currently being installed which would later hold the bridge columns.

Plenković said everything indicated the works would be completed in time. "In that way, we will finally achieve the strategic goal of connecting Croatia's south with all of Croatia."

The fact that the European Union is co-financing the bridge with 357 million euro "shows all of Croatia how important the cohesion policy is and how important the aid from the European budget is for this key infrastructure project," he said.

"This project was prepared seriously and will be a permanent symbol of the first seven years of our European Union membership," he said, adding that the bridge would show "how much we have all profited from it."

Plenković said the bridge was "of enormous significance for Croatia because we are making a new, special dimension of our cooperation with China." He thanked the China Road and Bridge company, which is building the bridge, Croatian Roads and the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure for their engagement in the construction.

Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Oleg Butković said that what they saw today was "indeed impressive and satisfactory." He added the 15th pylon was installed today. "It was envisaged that 1.35 pylons per day would be installed, yet we have two pylons per day being installed on average."

Butković said procedures for the second, third and fourth stages of construction were under way and that Croatian Roads would soon select the contractor for the second stage, which includes building 12 km of access roads. "Bids for the third and fourth stages will be submitted on February 14," he said, adding that the construction of Pelješac bridge was "a positive and successful story."

More news on the Pelješac bridge construction can be found in the Business section.