America News Agency

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic stated at the Regional Development Days event in Sibenik that the government is pursuing a balanced regional development policy in cooperation with local authorities.

Plenkovic noted that national resources and European Union (EU) funds are being used for regional development, emphasizing that there should be no concerns about EU funding in the new financial period.

According to Plenkovic, under the current proposal for the EU's new Multiannual Financial Framework covering 2028–2034, the difference between Croatia's contributions to the EU budget and the funds expected to be allocated to the country amounts to 7 billion euros.

Plenkovic explained that EU funds are being invested in energy, education, healthcare, digitalization, judicial infrastructure, agriculture, the modernization of coastal areas and airports, and the completion of motorway projects. He reported that investments in education had reached 3.5 billion euros, healthcare investments 3.2 billion euros, and post-earthquake reconstruction efforts 5.2 billion euros.

Plenkovic stated that dialogue between the central government and all levels of local government would continue and that regional development projects would continue to be implemented.