Utilisation of funds from the 'Competitiveness and Cohesion' operational programme 2014-2020

Subject: Utilisation of funds from the 'Competitiveness and Cohesion' operational programme 2014-2020

Under the ‘Competitiveness and Cohesion’ operational programme 2014-2020, Croatia has EUR 6.881 billion at its disposal, of which EUR 4.321 billion comes from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Through the Croatian Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Crafts’ E-impuls programme, grants with a total value of HRK 250 000 000 have been approved for Croatia.

The E-impuls programme is intended to stimulate initial investments linked to the establishment of a new business or the expansion of an existing business’s capacity in the sectors of manufacturing and production services by allocating grants to Croatian micro-enterprises and small companies.

What is the total amount of funds that Croatia has utilised in 2015, 2016 and 2017 under the E-impuls programme?

Answer given by Ms Creţu on behalf of the Commission

(29 March 2018)

According to the information provided by the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds responsible for implementation of the ‘E-impuls’ grant scheme, the first financing decision for a project was delivered in July 2017. From then until 14 February 2018, grant agreements were signed.

The total value of contracts signed amounts to HRK 426.6 million. Private investment will be co-financed with HRK 233.5 million of public funding through the European Regional Development Fund.

By mid-February, 203 projects were completed. So far, beneficiaires received HRK 75.89 million.

The majority of projects are going to be implemented in the course of 2018, some should be finalised by mid 2019.

No payment request concerning this call has been submitted to the Commission yet.