Plenkovic: Gov't wants balanced regional development in Croatia

Photo /Vijesti/2020/06 lipnja/2 lipnja/6.jpg

An agreement was signed in Slunj on Tuesday for the construction of water supply and water protection systems for Karlovac and Sisak-Moslavina counties, with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic attending the signing ceremony and saying that this was part of the government's wish for balanced regional development in Croatia.

The projects are valued at HRK 43.72 million without VAT, with the Hrvatske Vode water management company ensuring almost HRK 15 million from its budget for the projects. Prime Minister Plenkovic said that the contracts are part of the context of developing water management and everything that can improve the quality of life for citizens in these two counties.

"I think that is a very good policy and it's in line with the activities by our government aimed at supporting all areas of Croatia and in particular those areas that require additional help, and that is something we are continually doing," he underlined.

Plenkovic stressed the government's amendments to legislation concerning local government has meant an increase of 30% for Karlovac County's budget revenues, 25% for its cities and 29.11% for its municipalities in the 2017-19 period.

On top of that, he mentioned a series of activities that the government has taken regarding regional development valued at more than HRK 51 million. He underlined that HRK 2.9 billion had been contracted from European funds for Karlovac County, HRK 2.8 billion of which was during the term of this government.

He also mentioned the government's jobkeeping measures in those sectors affected by the recent lockdown, noting that by May 18, almost HRK 65 million had been paid to compensate workers in Karlovac County.

"There is a series of examples and in particular in water management where we invested a total of HRK 457 million from 2016 to 2020," he underscored.

Balanced regional development

Plenkovic said that the government would use the time ahead during the next seven-year European budget that will provide HRK 10 billion through regular allocations for a balanced regional development in the country, for the cohesion policy, the agriculture policy, jobkeeping measures, digitisation, "everything we want to additionally strengthen at the national level, plus an instrument for economic recovery with an additional €10 billion."

Text: Hina



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