Vella stressed that Croatia had made progress in activities aimed at improving EU policies in environmental protection, as part of which reports were compiled for the 28 member-states that describe main challenges and opportunities in environmental protection for each member-state.
He said that he welcomed the adoption of the Croatian waste management plan and the plan for the prevention of waste generation, noting that implementation was now of key importance and that Croatia enjoyed his support for it.
Vella noted that the circular economy provided a major opportunity for economic development, investment and the creation of new green jobs.
The report on Croatia cites as a positive example the northern Adriatic island of Krk, where a waste management plan based on the circular economy had been established and where waste sorting, recycling and composting was promoted.
Dobrovic said that 50% of waste on the island was recycled, adding that he had devised the model for waste management on Krk and that now he would work towards implementing the model at the national level.
"Many towns and municipalities are ready and are waiting for public tenders for the co-financing of projects for waste management and we will launch them soon. We will make significant progress in a short period of time," said Dobrovic.