Purpose: for member states with gross national income per capita below 90% of the EU average and used for financing projects in the areas of transport and environment.

The Fund can be used for financing activities related to:

• Trans-European transport network and pan-European corridors;
• transport infrastructure that contributes the environmentally sustainable urban and public transport, interoperability of transport networks all over the EU
• environmental infrastructure with the aim of implementing EU standards in environment protection
• efficient use of energy and renewable energy sources

Beneficiaries: mostly public authorities, but also business sector (by participating in public procurement procedures for delivery of goods, services and performing works, e.g. studies, construction works etc.)

Purpose: investing in production with the aim of creating jobs, infrastructural investments and local development as well as development of SMEs.

The Fund can be used for financing activities related to:

• productive investments contributing to creating and preserving sustainable jobs through direct payments for investing in SMEs
• investing in infrastructure in connection to basic citizen services in the areas of energy, environment, transport and information and communication technologies
• investing in social, health and educational infrastructure
• development of internal potential by supporting local and regional development and research, as well as innovation in public transport, interoperability of transport networks throughout the EU;

Beneficiaries: research centres, local and regional government, schools, corporations, training centres, state administration, SMEs, universities, associations. Public bodies, certain private sector organisations (especially small enterprises), non-governmental organisations, volunteer organisations will also be eligible for funding. Foreign companies based in the region which is covered by the operational programme can also apply, given they abide by the European public procurement regulations.

Purpose: boosting entrepreneurship and aiding employees in finding better jobs.

The Fund can be used for financing activities related to:

• investing in human resources (lifelong learning, innovations and entrepreneurship, professional orientation, training of lecturers in different expert areas)
• supporting the integration of the unemployed into the labour market (financing seminars, training)
• adapting to economic changes (more productive work organisation, targeting knowledge and skills, employment and training)
• accessing labour market (modernisation and strengthening of institutions, active employment measures)
• social inclusion (fighting discrimination, employment, help and services)

and

• supporting employment services (networking with research centres, creating and implementing studies regarding the need for a certain employee profile)

Beneficiaries: public administration, workers’ and employers’ associations, non-governmental organisations, charitable institutions and companies.

Purpose: improving rural policy management and control; investing in establishing ecological and territorial balance, protecting climatic conditions and introducing innovations into the agricultural sector.

The Fund can be used for financing activities related to:

• fostering knowledge transfer and innovation in agriculture, forestry and rural areas
• boosting competitiveness of all types of agriculture and strengthening the growth of sustainable economy
• promoting food chain organisation and risk management in agriculture
• reintroducing, preserving and promoting ecological dependency of agriculture and forestry
• promoting resource efficiency and supporting the shift toward a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy in the agriculture, food and forestry sectors
• promoting social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic development in rural areas

Beneficiaries: agricultural business entities, agricultural organisations, associations and trade unions, environmental protection associations, organisations providing cultural services, including the media, women’s associations, farmers, foresters, young.

Purpose: ensuring funding for fishing industry and coastal communities with the aim of adjustment to the changed conditions within the sector, as well as reaching economic and ecological sustainability. The aim of the Fund is ensuring sustainable fisheries and aquaculture industry (fish, mollusc and aquatic plant farming).

The Fund can be used for financing activities related to:

• sustainable development of fisheries, aquaculture and fishing areas
• reimbursing additional costs for fishery products and aquaculture in the farthest regions
• integrated maritime policy and accompanying measures

Beneficiaries: economic entities and associations in EU member states.

What is available to the Republic of Croatia in EU Funds?

Through accession the EU, the Republic of Croatia has become a beneficiary of the EU funds. In the 2014-2020 financial period, the Republic of Croatia has at its disposal in total EUR 10.676 billion from the European Structural and Investment funds.

Out of that amount, EUR 8.397 billion is envisaged for the cohesion policy objectives, EUR 2.026 billion is envisaged for agriculture and rural development, while EUR 253 million is envisaged for development of fisheries.

The Republic of Croatia has also used, and currently still uses, funding from the structural instruments of the 2007-2013 financial perspective, Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) and European Union Programmes.

European Union Programmes (box)

Pre-accession programmes

EU Funds 2007-2013

ESI Funds 2014-2020