Croatia and the World Bank have signed a EUR 1.94 million donation agreement to fund a project for protection against pollution of coastal waters, known as the Adriatic Project.
The agreement was signed in Zagreb on Tuesday by the Croatian Minister of Finance, Ivan Šuker, and the head of the World Bank's Social Protection Unit, Hermann von Gersdorff. Also present was the State Secretary for Development Zdravko Livaković in the name of the Ministry of the Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development.
The donation funds were secured by the Dutch Ministry of Development Cooperation and will be managed by the World Bank. The Croatian Water
Management Company will be the main beneficiary.
The funds will be used for the preparation of environmental impact and feasibility studies and project documents for a number of towns and municipalities in Dalmatia, Istria and the islands.
The purpose of the Adriatic Project, which is estimated at EUR 120 million, is to ensure environmentally-friendly economic development and promote the operation of utility companies and 
water quality inspection.
Water protection is one of the strategic goals of the Croatian government, which plans to invest about EUR 750 million over the next few years for that purpose. (Hina)
