Gov't can do only part of job in EU fund absorption, says deputy PM

The government and relevant ministries will promote possibilities for the absorption and use of European Union funds in March and April under the slogan "Together for EU funds", and the first presentation will be held in Zagreb on Tuesday.

After a keynote address at the "Together for EU funds" conference in Osijek, he told reporters that Croatia had EUR 10.7 billion of EU funds at its disposal until 2020 for economic growth and development. He said the government was focusing on employment because unemployment was the biggest problem.

Croatia had EUR 1.2 billion at its disposal from all programmes before preparations for the programme period until 2020, contracting about EUR 1 billion worth of projects and paying out about EUR 500 million, Grcic said.

Asked why, according to some assessments, Croatia was the worst in EU fund absorption, he said that when structural funds were excluded, "we have a good result, with over 80 percent of the funds contracted."

He said one should bear in mind that Croatia had received EUR 450 million in the second half od 2013, whereas other comparable EU member states received funds from 1 January 2007, when they joined the EU. "We weren't in the same position," he said.

"While they spent money for six years, we were still preparing for membership and only then received the funds, so we need several years to contract and spend them," he said, adding that this was why Croatia fared "relatively worse than other member states."

The full effects of EU fund absorption are felt in the fourth year of membership, he said. "Success will come, I'm sure of it."

(Hina) ha

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