Croatia will receive 111 million euro ($131 million) from the European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism by 2028 for investments in green transition, local development, innovation and justice under memorandums of understanding signed on Tuesday, Croatia’s EU funds ministry said.
“Through projects financed from the EEA and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, we strengthen the capacities of institutions, support sustainable development, inclusiveness and innovation, and contribute to the quality of life of our citizens in the long term,” EU funds minister Natasa Mikus Zigman said, as quoted in a press release. “These mechanisms also enable us to jointly develop solutions to key social and economic challenges and build the foundations for further cooperation with partner countries.”
In the new programming period, the EEA Financial Mechanism, through the green transition programme worth 21.6 million euro, will finance projects aimed at accelerating the green transition towards a more sustainable society. Through the local development programme, 33 million euro will be invested in projects including in better access to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in less developed regions.
The Norwegian Financial Mechanism will provide 22 million euro to finance the green and blue innovations programme, which fosters sustainable and competitive development through innovations, including a low-carbon circular economy model.
Through the justice programme, 21.6 million euro will be invested in improving access to an independent, accountable and efficient justice system and improving correctional institutions in line with international and European standards.
In the previous financial period, projects worth more than 103 million euro were implemented in Croatia through these mechanisms, including the establishment of four regional science centres.
The EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism have their basis in the EEA Agreement. Under this agreement, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are part of the European internal market. The agreement sets out the common goal of working together to reduce social and economic disparities in Europe and strengthening cooperation between European countries.
($ = 0.848 euro)
