"Having in mind the amount allocated in this operational programme of 6.88 billion euros and the exceptionally large and complex structure of system management and control, I believe we have achieved a huge success and opened the doors of the European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund for projects relating to environment protection, transport, entrepreneurship, research and innovation and many others," Minister Tomislav Tolusic told a press conference. "Finally, we can properly utilise EU funds," he added.
Tolusic said that the European Commission had "warned of the insufficient number of people in the system," which could lead to failure to absorb EU funds.
Croatia has 6.88 billion euros at its disposal from the 2014-2020 Competitiveness and Cohesion operational programme, of which 4.32 billion euros from the European Regional Development Fund and 2.56 billion euros from the Cohesion Fund.