Contracts were awarded to representatives of local and regional units whose projects were selected in the Fund's Public Call for Proposals for promoting the development of smart and sustainable solutions and services. The contracts were handed over by minister Marija Vučković, director of the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund Luka Balen, and state secretaries at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition Anja Bagarić and Željko Vuković.
As part of the Call for Proposals, resources have been provided for 80 projects that support projects of local and regional self-government units throughout Croatia, and the total value of investments exceed EUR 8.5 million. The Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund co-finances them with a total of 5 million euros.
The director of the Balen Fund reminded that in the last few years, 419 such and similar projects have already been contracted. "The Fund has secured co-financing of more than EUR 13 million, which confirms our strategic orientation towards green and digital solutions. Through such projects, we also promote balanced regional development, because smart solutions are not the privilege of large urban areas. An increasing number of smaller towns and municipalities are introducing digital green innovations, which together reduce digital and infrastructural differences in Croatia," said director Balen.
Minister Vučković pointed out that the Ministry would continue to provide support to projects that contribute to sustainability and green transition. “We are preparing schemes that will be the basis for public calls in the upcoming years, and it will be financed from the Modernisation Fund, Social Climate Fund, as well as from other sources. The aim is to increase the use of renewable energy sources, improve energy efficiency, establish the green infrastructure, strengthen sustainable waste management, and preserve air. It’s projects like this one that contribute to the green transition, and I’d like to thank all of you who recognised the importance of such investment,” said minister Vučković.
In the period from 2019 to 2025, the Fund conducted 6 calls for proposals related to the promotion of the development of smart and sustainable solutions and services in the public sector, with the aim of more efficient use of resources and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Under these calls, funds were allocated to 499 projects. A total of EUR 18.2 million was for their implementation, and they have encouraged investments throughout Croatia of almost 32 million euros.
