Among major projects, Degert cited the supervision of maritime traffic in the Adriatic, preparations for EU structural funds, support to the judiciary, and assistance to Roma communities in northwestern Croatia.
Finance Minister Ivan Suker said that these good results were achieved thanks to the system set up for that purpose by the Finance Ministry, which included training and capacity building.
The deadline for agreeing projects under PHARE 2006 expired on 30 November.
Of the 15.2 per cent of the remaining funds, EUR 4.54 million, or 8.6 per cent, concern public procurement projects that were agreed at lower costs than planned, while EUR 3.49 million or 6.6 per cent refer to projects for which no contracts were signed. Two were cancelled in the first half of 2008, while three were never agreed because they did not receive adequate bids.
It was also said that Croatia had received accreditation for the implementation of the IPA programme, which will make it possible for the country to draw the first advances in the total amount of EUR 42.7 million by the end of this year. (Hina)
