Croatia's GDP expected to rise significantly due to European funds
- Croatia's GDP will significantly benefit from European funds, projecting an eight percent increase by 2030.
- The EU Council meeting discussed the future of cohesion policy after 2027 and potential conditions for fund use.
- Minister Šime Erlić emphasized the necessity of preserving local involvement in the management of these funds.
Croatia's Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds, Šime Erlić, emphasized the vital role of European funds in boosting the country's economy during a recent meeting in Brussels. The minister stated that an ongoing commitment to strong EU cohesion policy is essential for Croatia's continued development. According to reports, the absence of cohesion funds could result in a notably lower GDP by the end of the decade. The meeting focused on future cohesion policy post-2027, discussing how to condition the use of these funds on reform implementations and investment outcomes, reflecting changes in management regulations for similar EU fund initiatives. This shift could stir concerns among member states regarding local involvement in financial decisions. The minister highlighted the effectiveness of the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism and insisted on the importance of local stakeholder participation in future EU fund allocations while stressing the need for reforms. The anticipated changes could reshape the approach to fund disbursement and ultimately affect Croatia’s long-term economic prospects reliant on European financial support.