Pejović-Žalac meeting: Support of Croatia in preparation for use of EU structural funds

Zagreb, Croatia (21 December 2016) -- Minister of European Affairs Aleksandar Andrija Pejović met with the Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds Gabrijela Žalac on the second day of his stay in Zagreb. Two ministers have exchanged their opinions on regional and territorial cooperation, with particular emphasis on trilateral programme between Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, which will be implemented in the period of 2014-2020 and for which the EU committed 67 million Eur for the implementation of joint projects and activities.

Minister Pejović informed his interlocutor that the most successful proposals for support in the context of the recently published First call for projects, with a total value of 25 million Eur, will be selected soon. He said he expects that the implementation of the projects will significantly contribute to the development of public health, environmental protection, development of the business environment, tourism and preservation of cultural and natural heritage. He stressed that the three countries will have in the coming period a little over 40 million Eur at their disposal. In order to better use these funds, he pointed to the importance of connecting the potential customers from three countries in the best way.

The interlocutors also exchanged their experiences from the previous EU funds use. Minister Pejović said that Montenegro has achieved a significant success when it comes to the use of pre-accession assistance and that it is successfully finalising implementation of projects under the financial perspective for IPA I 2007-2013. He stressed that because of this success, but also because of the constant progress of Montenegro in the negotiation process, the EU has increased the amount of available funds for 10%, i.e. to 275 million Eur for Montenegro, for the next seven-year period 2014-2020.

Minister Žalac indicated the significance of a proper preparation for the use of multiple major EU funds which will be available to Montenegro after acquiring membership. In that regard, she pointed out that Croatia is happy to share the knowledge and experience with the colleagues from Montenegro in order to better prepare for more successful transition from the pre-accession to structural funds through the exchange of good practices and lessons learned.