Next year, Croatia will be provided with 105 million euros - 80 million for the PHARE programme (strengthening public administration and promoting economic and social cohesion), and 25 million for the ISPA programme (support to infrastructure projects in environmental protection and transport).
In 2006 Croatia will be granted 140 million - 80 million for the PHARE programme, 35 million for the ISPA programme and 25 million for the SAPARD programme (agriculture).
For the funds to be used successfully, the action plan should define measures, project managers and deadlines within which all necessary preparations should be completed, such as the drawing up of a national strategy, the submission of draft programmes etc.
Such a plan is necessary so that we can avoid situations where we have been granted funds, but cannot use them, PM Ivo Sanader said.
The government also adopted an agreement on financing the annual CARDS programme of activity for 2004, which envisages 76 million euros of non-repayable funds for Croatia.
The funds are intended primarily for democratic stabilisation, economic and social development, the judiciary and internal policy, the strengthening of the administrative potential, and environmental protection.
Croatia has been using funds from the CARDS programme since 2001 and so far has been granted 176 million euros.
European Integration Minister Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic stressed the need for using the funds more efficiently.
At the beginning of this year, only 30 percent of the funds were used, and in the meantime their usability has increased to 38 percent, the minister said.