Prior to the full EU membership, Croatia had at its disposal funding from the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA). IPA funding was used for financing projects for the harmonization of national legislation with the acquis communautaire, the application of harmonized legislation, as well as preparations for the implementation of EU cohesion and agricultural policies.
The IPA had a key role in the development of the management and control system for the use of EU funds. The financial value of the IPA Croatia for the 2007-2013 period was 997.6 million euro.
The Ministry of Regional Development and European Union Funds was responsible for the overall coordination of the IPA programme, while the Ministry of Finance was responsible for the financial management. A special operational structure has been established for the implementation of each of the five IPA components, consisting of managing authorities and implementing agencies.
Five IPA components:
Priorities within the components are defined in accordance with the needs of each participating country, with the aim of maximal adapting to the country’s specifics. A management structure consisting of the management authority and the implementing agencies responsible for tendering and contracting procedures has been established for each component.
IPA was a kind of continuation of the first generation of EU funds: CARDS, PHARE, ISPA and SAPARD, and at the same time a preparation for the implementation of ESI funds.
The deadline for the implementation of contracts signed under IPA was 2018 (IPA 2012) and January 2019 (IPA 2013). Payments for projects implemented within these programmes will be completed by the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020.
