Croatian government adopts EU Partnership Agreement

After months of discussion, the Croatian government on Tuesday adopted the Agreement on Partnership with the European Union, which describes how Croatia will proceed to meet the common goals of the Europe 2020 Strategy.

The goals will be met with the assistance of funds from the EU budget which have been awarded to Croatia as part of the Multiannual Financial Framework for the 2014-2020 period.

The agreement defines the national investment strategy for the EU structural and investment funds and the priorities and mechanisms for the effective and efficient use of financing from the two funds with a view to implementing the Europe 2020 Strategy, an EU strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, the government said in a statement.

The priority goals are: economic competitiveness, environmental protection and resource efficiency, development of sustainable and modern transport infrastructure, labour market participation and education quality, poverty, inequality and discrimination, and public administration efficiency. These goals are in line with the National Reform Programme, the recommendations of the Council of the EU, the government's economic targets, commitments from the Accession Treaty, EU directives and the thematic concentration of funds.

In accordance with the Multiannual Financial Framework, Croatia will have access to EUR 10.676 billion from the EU budget, of which 4.321 billion from the European Regional Development Fund, 1.516 billion from the European Social Fund, 2.559 billion from the Cohesion Fund, 2.026 billion from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, and 252.6 million from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.

The government instructed the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds to transmit the document to the European Commission for adoption.

(Hina) vm

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