05.12.2024.
In the contest for selection the best Croatian cities, the director of the Fund, Luka Balen, presented the City of Osijek with an award in the Eco City category. Apart from Osijek, 10 other cities and five counties received awards. All winners were announced as part of the three-day event Regional Development and EU Funds Days, which was attended by the President of the Government of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenković and many ministers.President of the Government Plenković pointed out that Croatia had thus far fully used the funds from an entire multiannual framework, the European Solidarity Fund for reconstruction after the earthquake, and was one of the most efficient members in using funds from the Recovery and Resilience Facility. Numerous new calls for proposals under the current financial perspective were also announced. "The 25 billion euros that are available to us in this decade are strategically important for regional development policy," said the President of the Government. He added that the experience that everyone had gained in withdrawing funds at both national and local level was valuable, and the funds obtained represented an added value that had helped Croatia achieve standards of economic development and social security.
Director Balen said that the Fund's Implementing Body, in cooperation with line ministries, managed and controlled more than 3,000 projects financed from EU sources, with a grant value of over 4.5 billion euros. "All these projects not only contribute to the preservation of our environment, but also enable sustainable development, the creation of new jobs and a better standard of living for our citizens. They have become a key tool in achieving the goals of green transition, energy efficiency and sustainable resource management," said Balen.
As part of the three-day conference, numerous contracts were awarded, including those jointly awarded by Deputy Prime Minister and minister of physical planning, construction and state assets Branko Bačić and the director of the Fund Luka Balen, related to the co-financing of energy renovations of public buildings. Contracts worth a total of 7 million euros were awarded to representatives of the cities of Zadar, Buzet and Biograd na Moru, as well as to the dean of the Faculty of Engineering in Rijeka, and the director of the Public Institution for the Management of Šibenik Sports Facilities.
In different lectures and panels held as part of the Regional Development and EU Funds Days, many participants exchanged experiences they have in the implementation of EU projects. Regarding the development and strengthening of human resources in the EU funds system, Branimir Burić from the Department for system control participated as the Fund’s representative in the namesake panel. Burić pointed out that the Fund's Implementing Body controlled numerous projects in the field of waste management, nature protection and energy efficiency. He said that both public calls and beneficiaries of funds were different, and that was why thematic educational workshops were held to explain the procedures in detail, all for the purpose of successful implementation of approved projects.
