Representatives of the European Commission (EC) Delegation to Croatia held a final news conference in Šibenik on Monday focusing on the implementation of a regional CARDS 2002 project on the sustainable development of the war-affected areas in Zadar and Šibenik-Knin counties, which is being financed by the EU.
EC Delegation head Vincent Degert said the EU cared about the balanced development of all areas, including the formerly war-affected areas in Croatia.
The main purpose of the project was to speed up the implementation of Regional Operative Programs (ROP), it was said at the press conference.
Degert said regional development projects proved that the EU cared about Croatian citizens and worked towards improving their living conditions. He added that international assistance would be even stronger once Croatia became a full member of the EU.
The EU has secured 13 billion euros for regional development until 2013. If Croatia becomes an EU member in that period, it will receive one billion euros for regional development.
Šibenik-Knin County served as a pilot project to draw up the ROP, a document defining development strategy, said Drago Matić, head of the unit for the implementation of the ROP.
Of the 12.2 million euro CARDS 2002 project, 6.2 million were ensured for Šibenik-Knin County. So far the funds have been used for the construction and reconstruction of seven infrastructure and business facilities and for preparing the construction of three water supply systems.
The project was also used to kick-start regional local development through the allocation of non-repayable funds for 15 tourism projects, including those in Knin and Skradin.
In Zadar County the CARDS 2002 project was used to finance the construction of four water supply systems and de-mine about a dozen farmland plots.
The town of Benkovac was given assistance to prepare documentation and a feasibility study to apply for non-repayable EU funds for the establishment of a business zone. Nineteen other projects have been prepared for implementation in Zadar County.
After the news conference in Šibenik, the EC delegation toured construction sites covered by the CARDS project.