Operational Programes “Transport”, “Environment”, “Regional Competitiveness” and “Human Resources Development” , as well as the already active projects funded under each operational program were presented yesterday in Zagreb. These four operational programs were adopted by the European Commission in September and October this year, which enables now publishing of public calls.

However, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds Branko Grcic pointed out that this is only an introduction to the key phase of the start of the use of funds from the Structural and Cohesion Fund from which Croatia in the next programming period (2014th-2020t ) will be provided with a total of 8,3 billion euros, or more than one billion euros per year. In order to start with this we have to complete the accreditation of Croatian institutions participating in the use of EU funds, which is in its final stage.

The greater part of 2014. Croatia will in turn spend on the programming for the new budget period, and a key document for this, Partnership Agreement, is being intensively prepared in order to be submitted in March, 2014 to the Commission for approval, while the deadline for operational programs which derive from this is mid-July next year.

Operational Programme “Regional Competitiveness”
Strategic goal is to increase the competitiveness of SMEs and support knowledge-based economy for which is provided a total of 223.615.126 euros, of which 187.779.595 euros will be financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

Operational Programme “Environment”
The strategic objective is to improve the environmental infrastructure and quality-related services. For this programme is provided a total of 330.704.726 euros, of which 281.099.011 euros will be financed by the Cohesion Fund.

Operational Programme “Transport”
The strategic objective is the development of modern transportation networks and increase of regions’ availability. For Operational Programme “Transport” for the period 2007-2013 is provided a total of 278.803.890 euros, of which 236.983.305 euros will be financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

Operational Programme “Human Resources Development”
The strategic objective is to improve the efficiency of the labor market, development of human capital and strengthening of social inclusion – for those objectives is provided a total of 179.309.591 euros, of which 152.413.07 euros will be financed from the European Social Fund.