Croatia has so far received 3.6 billion euros under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), and more funds will be disbursed over the next two and a half years, which will serve as significant levers for investment and project implementation,” Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Thursday at a government session.
In his report on the implementation of the NRRP, the Prime Minister stated that Croatia is expected to receive a total of around 10.5 billion euros under the NRRP, with a portion being non-repayable grants and the remainder loans.
“So far, we have received four installments, according to the schedule based on meeting all criteria and indicators, along with two advances,” Plenković said. The first advance amounted to 818 million euros and the second to 585 million euros. One installment was approximately 160 million euros, while three installments exceeded 700 million euros each.
“Thus far, Croatia has received a total of 3.67 billion euros. Less than a month ago, we submitted a request for the fifth installment of 822 million euros,” Plenković emphasized, adding that subsequent installments will be even larger. The sixth will amount to 836 million euros, while the seventh and eighth will exceed 900 million euros each. The final, tenth installment will be over one billion euros.
“All these funds will arrive in Croatia by the end of 2026. Therefore, in the next two and a half years, substantial funds will be received, serving as major levers for investment and project implementation,” Plenković said.
He also highlighted that Croatia is fully within the timelines for meeting the NRRP, having fulfilled, as he noted, 157 out of 157 set indicators, encompassing 122 reforms and 35 investments.
“We are currently in the phase of meeting these same indicators for the sixth installment, of which nine have already been fulfilled,” he said.
Croatia ranks as the second most successful EU country, just behind Italy, in implementing the Recovery and Resilience Plan, being the second EU member state to request the disbursement of the 5th installment.
Regarding implementation (tenders, calls, direct awards, financial instruments) under the NRRP, as of April 30 this year, Croatia has completed and fully closed 27% of the total allocation, with another 28% in progress.
“So far, 5.6 billion euros have been drawn down or are currently being absorbed through various tenders, calls, direct awards, and financial instruments. An additional 2.4 billion euros are in preparation, and by the end of this year, we will cumulatively be close to 80%,” Plenković said.
He also cited significant investments from the NRRP, such as 1.2 billion euros for water management and waste management, nearly 900 million euros for the development of the transport system (including 60 million euros for tramway modernization and the purchase of 30 low-floor trams for Zagreb and Osijek), 11 million euros for investments in public transport ports like Split and Brač, and 9 million euros for the aircraft handling, dispatch, and supply system at Zadar Airport.
Other investments include 1.7 billion euros for educational system reforms, 340 million euros for healthcare, over 100 million euros for the judicial system, over 100 million euros for the social welfare system, 131 million euros for agriculture (including 80 million euros for the construction and equipping of logistics-distribution centers for fruits and vegetables), and 2 billion euros for building renovations after earthquakes and energy efficiency improvements.
The NRRP is the foundational document for utilizing funds available to Croatia under the “EU Next Generation” instrument, designed to expedite European economic recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: HINA
