Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said that projects financed by European funds remain poorly recognizable in the media and society despite their significant scale and importance for regional development, HINA reported, quoted by BTA.
The statement was made during the Days of Regional Development and European Funds in the southern city of Šibenik.
According to Plenković, this is a serious communication problem for the first 12 years of EU membership. Despite numerous successful projects, the topic is rarely present in public dialogue, which affects public perception of the direction of the country's development. The Prime Minister added that the government does not communicate the importance of individual projects well enough, although there are specially earmarked funds for their promotion.
“It is no wonder that in surveys 75 percent of citizens say that Croatia is not going in the right direction. In total, no more than 200 people know about these projects“, said Plenković and called on local authorities to activate communication mechanisms to raise awareness.
Minister of Regional Development and European Funds Natasa Mikus Žigman noted that over the past year 4 billion euros have been provided under various programs that improve living conditions and support economic growth. She stressed that Croatia is the only EU country to have allocated 150 million euros specifically for the development of the islands, which shows their strategic importance.
According to the minister, the country has increased its level of development from 61% of the EU average upon accession to 77% in 2024, demonstrating the role of European funds. In the new financial period 2028-2034, Croatia will have 16.8 billion euros at its disposal, with competitiveness, productivity and a regional approach remaining the main priorities.