16.07.2026.
The Director of the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, Luka Balen, participated in the final meeting with Jessica Rosswall, European Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and Competitive Circular Economy, which was organised at the Representative Office of the European Commission in Zagreb.Director Balen introduced the Fund as an operational partner of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and line ministries - especially the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition - In the implementation of the green transition, which has co-financed over 40 thousand different projects in more than 20 years of its operation. He also highlighted the strong institutional capacities of the Fund, which, after the successful implementation of the Operational Programme Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014 - 2020, partially continues the same role for the Programme Competitiveness and Cohesion 2021 - 2027, also implements the LIFE programme, the Modernisation Fund, and will be responsible for the upcoming Social Climate Fund. As proof of excellent cooperation with the non-governmental sector, Balen mentioned the contracts awarded to civil society organisations the day before, some of which actively participated in this meeting.
Commissioner Rosswall stressed that water and circular economy represented critical security and political priorities for the European Commission. She warned of the EU's heavy dependence on China, requiring an urgent industrial revolution through circularity to ensure competitiveness and preserve critical raw materials. She announced a new Circular Economy Act that will simplify the rules, introduce stricter regulations on packaging and transform waste into a resource. Referring to the water sector, she highlighted the pressures of climate change, high water demands and shortages. She also pointed out that public money will not suffice and that the industry must invest in smart water management, which is why creating capital markets and attracting private investment is a priority for the EC. The inclusion of natural resources on companies' balance sheets was also particularly highlighted, as the top five industrial risks are directly linked to the loss of nature.
In addition to director Balen, the meeting with Commissioner Rosswall was attended by representatives of public institutions, the financial and academic sectors, entrepreneurs and civil society organisations: the City of Zagreb, the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Zagreb, HBOR, Zagrebačka banka (UniCredit Group), Feelsgood Capital, the Society for Sustainable Development Design (DOOR), the Croatian Business Council for Sustainable Development (HR PSOR), Zelena akcija, the BIOM Association, WWF Adria, Humana Nova and the Kultura Nova Foundation. Stakeholders came together with the common goal of discussing the circular economy, water resilience and the New European Bauhaus portfolio, as well as accelerating green investments and strengthening Europe's resilience.
