16.02.2026.
A press conference was held at the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund with the minister of environmental protection and green transition Marija Vučković, state secretary Anja Bagarić, director of the Directorate for Nature Protection Igor Kreitmeyer, director of the Directorate for Water Management and Marine Protection Elizabeta Kos, director of the Fund Luka Balen, and deputy director of the Fund Mirko Budiša.Plans for the remediation of illegal dumpsites in Bedekovčina Municipality and near Gospić, with an estimated value of more than 10 million euros, were presented at the conference, as well as six priority polluted sites at national level. In addition, the Draft Proposal of the Regulation on payment to the State budget and the distribution of revenues of public institutions national parks and nature parks, the Draft Proposal of the Regulation promulgating the special nature reserve “Poljana”, and the Call for Financing the implementation of investment projects related to smaller segments of the public water supply and public sewage system worth EUR 50 million were presented.
Marija Vučković, the minister of environment and green transition, announced that the remediation of the dumpsite in the municipality of Bedekovčina and the first phase of remediation near Gospić would cost a little over 10 million euros, and the Ministry has identified six priority locations for remediation.
"Our estimate is that the first remediation phase in Gospić and the remediation in the townlet of Poznanovec in Bedekovčina municipality will cost slightly more than 10 million euros without VAT, of which 7.5 million is allocated to Poznanovec, and 2.6 million euros to Gospić," said minister Vučković. In the municipality of Bedekovčina in the northern part of Croatia, there are two locations with about 13 thousand tonnes of dumped waste, mostly plastic waste, tyres and mixed waste. The illegal dumpsite near Gospić contains about 35 thousand tonnes of waste, of which 3.5 thousand tonnes will be remediated in the first phase. "I appreciate that the interest of local communities in the quality of soil and water is legitimate. Different authorities and institutions are doing their job to determine the state of the environment, water and soil. In addition, experts have been hired to continuously monitor the environmental status. The information we have for now states that there are no increased limit values, and this is something we’re claiming with full accountability, with the promise that we will continue to monitor the situation," said Vučković.
Last week, the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund launched a public procurement procedure for remediation works on these dumpsites. The minister added that based on the public calls invited thus far, the Ministry had received data on 91 polluted locations across the country.
"We have secured 30 million euros to define large pollution spots, with six being established as priorities, among which are the locations that are most debated in public, such as Gospić or Bedekovčina," she said.
Responding to criticism that the remediation processes were unfolding at a too slow pace, the minister noted these could not have started before the completion of investigative procedures carried out by other authorities.
"We got the opportunity to work at these locations only in the second half of October 2025. In the meantime, we prepared one part of the documentation and conducted public consultations related to market and price analysis because it is in the best interest of the state budget," she said.
In addition, the development of a remediation plan for the polluted locations in Pazin and Samobor was initiated, and Luka Balen, the director of the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, talked about the measures taken in the hamlet of Biljane Donje, in the area of the town of Benkovac, and in Solin. "So far, 42 thousand tonnes have been transported from Biljane Donje. Also, in the fourth phase of remediation of the former factory Salonit in Solin, we have carried out the procurement procedure and are in the final phase of obtaining a building permit. This project is worth 5.1 million euros with VAT, and I expect the works will start in March," he said.
At the press conference, the Draft Proposal of the Regulation on payment to the State budget and the distribution of revenues of public institutions national parks and nature parks was also presented, which maintains the existing payment of 3% of the revenues from tickets and allows for an additional payment of 10% of surplus revenues over expenditures. Director Kreitmeyer also presented the Draft Proposal of the Regulation promulgating the special nature reserve “Poljana”.
Elizabeta Kos, the director of the Directorate for Water Management and Marine Protection, presented the third open-ended restricted Call under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021 - 2026, worth EUR 50 million, intended for financing smaller investment projects related to public water supply and sewage system. The call was published on 12 February, while applications can be submitted as of today. Through this programme, it is planned to finance projects worth up to 4 million euros, where co-financing of up to 80% is provided from the Recovery and Resilience Facility, while 20% is provided nationally, 10% by Croatian Waters, and 10% by the applicant.
