This document summarizes opportunities for investment in Croatia using European structural and investment funds between 2014-2020. Key points include: - Croatia will receive over €8 billion total from the funds, to be allocated to priority areas like competitiveness, green energy, connectivity, employment, poverty reduction, and public services. - The two main programs are Competitiveness and Cohesion and will focus on innovation, SMEs, education, social inclusion and infrastructure. - The funds aim to strengthen the economy, reduce disparities between regions, and improve living standards in line with the EU 2020 goals.

1. OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVESTMENTS
IN CROATIA IN THE FRAMEWORK OF
EUROPEAN STRUCTURAL AND
INVESTMENT FUNDS
Nikša Tkalec
Permanent Representation of the
Republic of Croatia to the EU
14.6.2016.

2. CROATIA FACTS
• 56,594 km2
• 4,3 million inhabitants (90% Croats)
• Four main geographical areas:
 Coastal Croatia (including islands)
 Adriatic hinterland (mountainous region, sub-Alpine)
 Panonian Croatia (Slavonia, river basins)
 Central Croatia (Northwest, Zagorje hills)

3. • Parliamentary constitutional Republic (first
democratic elections held in 1990. at the sunset
of Yugoslavia)
• Administrative set-up: 20 counties + Zagreb
• Split, Rijeka, Osijek
• Two main political parties – Social democrats
(reformed communists) and
• Croatian Democratic Union (conservative
Christian democrats) – were in power for most of
26 years of Croatian independence

4. HISTORICAL FLASH
• Arrival in 7/8 century; first kingdom in 925
• Union with Hungary 1102 → Habsburg Empire in 1527,
later on Austro-Hungarian Empire
• After WWI secession from A-H – first union with other
SouthSlavic peoples
• Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes – later
Yugoslavia
• Turbulent period od WWII – Socialist Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia (Croatia 1 of 6 Republics) in 1943
• Declaration of Independence 8.10.1991.
• Accession to the EU 1.7.2013.

5. EU FUNDING
• European assistance in Croatia started in 1996.
with the specialized programme OBNOVA
• CARDS, PHARE, ISPA, SAPARD
• 2007-2013 Instrument for Pre-Accession
Assistance (IPA)
• 16 years period EU invested almost 1,5 billion
euro; IPA programme little less than €1 billion
• Since 2006 Croatia participates in numerous
Union programmes (FP7, PROGRESS, Marco Polo,
Fiscalis, Media, CIP ….) up to €35 million annually

6. STRUCUTRAL FUNDS
• NSRF 2007-2013 – adopted by the COMM in
August 2013
• OP Transport, Environment and Regional
Competitiveness adopted in September 2013
• OP Human Resources adopted in October
2013
• Little less than €500 million for 6-month
period
• Similar to IPA M&C structure

7. 2014 - 2020
• 2 NUTS2 regions – adriatic and continental
• New administrational setup:
MRDEUF responsible for 2 large OPs
Competitiveness and Cohesion; Technical Assistance
 Ministry of Labour and Pension System – ESF
+ Rural Development and Fisheries

8. FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
ESIF amounts allocated to Croatia for
2014-2020 period
In billion euros
(2011 prices)
Cohesion Policy
ERDF, ESF, CF
8.029
Agriculture and Rural Development
EAFRD
2.056
Maritime and Fisheries
EMFF
0.280

9. COHESION POLICY
Programme/Initiative In billion euros
(2011 prices)
Cohesion Fund 2.676
Investment in Growth and Employment
ERDF and ESF
5.225
European Territorial Cooperation
ETC – ERDF
128
TOTAL 8.029
Additional YEI allocation 0.618

10. THEMATIC CONCENTRATION
• ERDF
 ≥ 50% of ERDF allocation for the research and
innovation goals, ICT, SMEs and reduction of the
CO2 emissions
 12-20% of ERDF allocation for transfer to low
carbon economies
 ≥ 5% allocation for investments in sustainable
urban development

11. • ESF
 ≥ 20% allocation for the reduction of poverty and
social inclusion goals
 80% allocation on 4 thematic objectives
• CF
 20% dedicated to climate change adaptation
 even distribution between environment and
transport goals

12. FOCUSING FUNDS – MAIN PRIORITIES
1. Strengthen cooperation and enable the flow of knowledge between the private and public sectors
(ERDF)
2. Support business competitiveness and enhance access to public services though ICT (ERDF)
3. Increase international competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (ERDF)
4. Ensure sustainable and secure energy supply (ERDF)
5. Enhance adaptation to changes of nature conditions (ERDF)
6. Ensure EU standards for environment protection and services, and sustainable contribution of
natural and cultural resources to economic development (ERDF, CF)
7. Develop modern urban transport and improve sustainability, intermodality and safety of the
transport system (ERDF, CF)
8. Raise the employability of the workforce (ESF, ERDF)
9. Encourage commitment to social responsibility and improve the quality of social and health
services for vulnerable groups (ESF, ERDF)
10. Develop competence by ensuring accessible, relevant and differential education (ESF, ERDF)
11. Increase capacity, transparency and efficiency of administrative and judiciary procedures (ESF)

14. PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
• 3 MAIN DEVELOPMENT GOALS
(IN RELATION TO EUROPE 2020 STRATEGY GOALS):
1. Increase the competitiveness of economy and
employment and ensure knowledge-based
growth
2. Reduce the poverty and strengthen social
inclusion
3. Reduce regional disparities and ensure better
quality of life

15. PRIORITY AREAS
• 6 MAIN PRIORITY AREAS FOR INVESTMENTS
1. COMPETITIVENESS – development of innovative
companies
2. GREEN LIVING – energy efficiency, RES, environment
protection
3. CONNECTIVITY – sustainable, multi-modal network
4. EMPLOYABILITY – labour market accessibility,
quality of education
5. POVERTY – strengthening social inclusion
6. PUBLIC SERVICES – judiciary and public
administration efficiency

16. THANK YOU!
• Niksa.tkalec@mvep.hr
• 0032 49 999 99 32
• www.strukturnifondovi.hr