The projects focus on capacity building and amount to 9,223,000 euros, of which the EU will cover 6,348,240 euros.
The four Croatian projects include a project of the Croatian Environment Agency, which aims to create national standards and methods for a soil monitoring programme which meet EU requirements. The EU co-financing is 533,700 euros. The second project was nominated by the Croatian water management agency - Croatian Waters; the EU co-financing is 211,571 euros. The project will contribute to the national water protection strategy and help comply with the EU Water Framework Directive.
The third project was nominated by the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park Public Service; the EU co-financing is 496,845 euros. The project aims to develop and improve integrated river basin management by developing consultative processes involving stakeholders.
The fourth project was nominated by the University of Zagreb Faculty of Civil Engineering. Its aim is to assist the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Physical Planning and Construction in establishing a sustainable system for managing construction and demolition waste. The EU co-financing is 492,584 euros. The construction sector in Croatia produces two million tonnes of construction waste annually and less than five percent of construction waste is presently recycled and re-used.
The Commission has also granted funds for one project in Bosnia-Herzegovina, two projects in Gaza and the West Bank, two projects in Israel, one in Jordan, one in Lebanon, one in Russia, one combined project in Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco and one project in Turkey.