PM Plenkovic: Absorption of EUR 10.67 mn is our obligation and challenge

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Monday that the EUR 10.67 billion which is available to Croatia in EU funds represented "an obligation, a challenge and a task" for all in order to absorb and use these funds for specific projects.

Speaking at the opening of the EU Funds Week event, Plenkovic said that the government would do all in its power to facilitate and speed up the withdrawal of EU funding.

"Changes will not be enough if we do not have people to implement them. The government has recognised the importance of strengthening the administrative capacity at the national and regional levels as one of the basic preconditions for the successful absorption of EU funds. With additional effort we will ensure the hiring of competent and professional people to work in the EU funds management and control system so that the changes we aim to make would not threaten the stability of that system," the prime minister said.

He said that one of the government's main tasks was to monitor the absorption capacity of different departments and the training of staff for processing tenders and preparing projects that should contribute to more balanced regional development and help attain EU standards.

Asked by the press how many people would be hired for that purpose, Plenkovic said about 600 and they would be working in various agencies and ministries. He added that 85 percent of funds for their salaries would be secured from the EU, and that the government would make this decision very soon.

Plenkovic said that it was important to effectively connect European structural and investment funds and the European Strategic Investment Fund and funds from the Juncker Plan.

"I think that Croatia has the best prospects when it comes to infrastructure," the prime minister said, citing Peljesac Bridge as a strategic project.

Regional Development and EU Funds Minister Gabrijela Zalac said that Croatia had withdrawn HRK 6.3 billion from EU funds last year, while paying HRK 3.3 billion into the EU budget, registering a large net profit for the first time.

"We are on the right track and we can do better," Zalac said, adding that the plan for this year was to arrange projects worth HRK 13 billion.

EU Funds Week lasts until April 28 and its purpose is to present to potential beneficiaries of EU funds possibilities and benefits of using EU structural and investment funds.

Text: Hina

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