EC greenlights Croatia's 822 mln euro RRF payment request

"Following its assessment of the payment request submitted on 15 April 2024, the Commission has preliminarily concluded that Croatia has satisfactorily completed the 25 milestones and 12 targets set out in the Council Implementing Decision for the fifth grant instalment and the first loan instalment," it said in a press release on Wednesday.

The Commission believes that 15 reforms and 16 investments will drive positive change for citizens and businesses in Croatia in the areas of digitalisation, public administration, clean mobility, water and wastewater management, tourism, the judiciary, education and health.

Flagship measures in this payment request include a more resilient and cost-efficient health system and establishing a one-stop-shop for all electronic public helpdesk services.

The Commission has now sent its preliminary assessment to the Economic and Financial Committee (EFC), which has four weeks to deliver its opinion. The payment to Croatia can take place following the EFC's opinion, and the adoption of a payment decision by the Commission.

The Croatian recovery and resilience plan includes a wide range of investment and reform measures. The plan will be financed by 5.8 billion euro in grants and 4.2 billion euro in loans.

This payment request will bring the funds disbursed to Croatia under the RRF to 3.1 billion euro, which corresponds to 31% of all the funds in the Croatian plan, with 36% of all the milestones and targets in the plan fulfilled.

($ = 0.925 euro)