The technical assistance programme is aimed at strengthening Croatia's institutions and administrative possibilities so as to be able to meet EU membership criteria.
Grabar-Kitarovic said the programme ensured concrete cooperation in important areas such as health protection, education, the social area, and environmental protection which, according to the European Commission, would be one of the most difficult chapters in Croatia's EU entry talks.
The Dutch minister, whose country currently chairs the EU, said cooperation with Zagreb was important for the Netherlands because Croatia, he added, would become part of the European family and the EU very soon.