04.09.2024.
Together with Deputy Prime Minister and minister of physical planning, construction and state assets Branko Bačić, Luka Balen, the director of the Fund, made a working visit to Vukovar-Srijem and Osijek-Baranja Counties. The two counties with cities and municipalities in their area were granted almost EUR 60 million for the implementation of numerous important projects that will contribute to the development of the economy and further growth of the standard of living.The visit began with a working meeting with deputy prefect Franjo Orešković, currently acting prefect of Vukovar-Srijem County, at which common line topics were discussed. After the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Bačić and director Balen presented to the representatives of local self-government units and county institutions grant contracts and decisions for the development of new generation spatial plans, and contracts for the energy renovation of public sector buildings with a total value of EUR 4.2 million.
As part of the energy renovation of public sector buildings, public and community buildings in Vinkovci, Babina Greda, and Ivan Kozarac Primary School in Županja will be renovated, for which a 3.6 million euros allocation has been provided.
"Energy renovation of public buildings is one of the priorities in the work of this Government, aimed at reducing energy demand, primarily in public buildings, in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make Croatia sustainable," said minister Bačić.
The director of the Fund pointed out that energy renovation, together with the use of renewable energy sources, was the basis of the green transition. "Guided by the slogan "Renovated buildings save more and are worth more", the Government of the Republic of Croatia used financing available through the European Union funds, as well as national funding through the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, covering various purpose buildings with energy renovation programmes: public buildings, buildings of economic entities, and apartment buildings are being renovated. Moreover, a record 120 million euros have been provided for the energy renovation of family houses this year, for which the Fund received almost 12 thousand applications, of which 1113 were from Vukovar-Srijem County," said director Balen.
The working visit continued in the City of Vukovar, where contracts worth over 23 million euros were signed with mayor Ivan Penava, for the development of new generation spatial plans, energy renovation of Blago Zadro Primary School, donation of real estate, and an agreement on the allocation of nine council apartments.
After Vukovar, the meetings continued with representatives of Osijek-Baranja County. In the presence of deputy prefect Mate Lukić, currently acting prefect, Deputy Prime Minister Bačić and the director of the Fund handed to the representatives of local self-government units and institutions from the area 2 contracts for the energy renovation of public sector buildings, 20 contracts for the co-financing of new generation spatial plans, and one contract for the development of a green urban renewal strategy with a total value of EUR 970,000.
"I would like to underline excellent cooperation with Osijek-Baranja County, which, in terms of energy renovation projects, resulted in numerous public and private buildings and family houses that have been renovated, or are being renovated. About 85 million euros have been provided for this from national resources and from EU funds in recent years", said the director of the Fund.
The visit to the two Slavonia counties was concluded with a meeting with the mayor of Osijek, Ivan Radić, to whom Deputy Prime Minister Bačić ceremonially handed over a Deed of Gift for 36 hectares of state-owned land worth 12.9 million euros, with the aim of further development of the Osijek entrepreneurial zone "Nemetin". In addition, two contracts were signed - for the energy renovation of the building of "Krijesnica" Preschool, and the building of the City of Osijek Public Fire Brigade.
