Croatia joins EU's Marco Polo program

Croatia and the European Commission have signed a memorandum of understanding on Croatia's participation in the Marco Polo program, which is designed to promote freight transport by sea, inland waterways and rail, the European Commission said in a statement on Wednesday.

The memorandum was signed by European Transport Commissioner Antonio Tajani and Croatia's Ambassador to the EU, Branko Baričević.

After Croatia ratifies the memorandum, its transport companies will be able to apply with their projects for funds from the Marco Polo program and receive financial assistance if their projects are selected.

Croatia represents a crucial geographical area for transport operations in the Adriatic and the Balkans. Projects of the Marco Polo program in which Croatia is fully involved will help in the development of an integrated European transport system, notably transport by rail, sea and inland waterways, the EC said in the statement.

The Marco Polo program was launched in 2003 with the aim of developing in the EU the most sustainable transport system possible by redirecting significant international freight transport from roads to environmentally more acceptable forms of transport - by rail, sea and inland waterways.


(Hina)

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