ZAGREB, August 31, 2019 – Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Friday received representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) headed by the bank’s vice president Pierre Heilbronn, the government said in a press release, underscoring that cooperation between EBRD and Croatia and the implementation of projects were continuing.
“Prime Minister Plenković expressed his satisfaction with the cooperation with the EBRD thus far which is reflected in 3.8 billion euro in funding that the EBRD has approved until now to finance 210 projects in Croatia in the field of transport infrastructure, energy, shipbuilding, tourism, local infrastructure and environment protection, and small and medium-sized enterprises,” the government said in a press release.
During the meeting, there was talk of positive economic trends in Croatia with regard to continuing GDP growth, the stability of public finances, generating a budget surplus as well as having the country’s credit rating reinstated to investment level (according to Standard & Poor’s and Fitch).
Plenković and Heilbronn discussed the EU’s new multi-annual financial framework 2021-2027 and Croatia’s chairmanship of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2020. The EBRD has been recognised as an important partner in achieving common priorities directed at job creation, growth and strengthening competitiveness, employment, with special focus on young people, connectivity, security and EU enlargement.
In that context, Heilbronn announced a summit of Southeast European countries that EBRD is organising in February 2020 in London, the press release said.
Prior to meeting with the prime minister, Heilbronn met separately with Finance Minister Zdravko Marić and Regional Development and EU Funds Minister Marko Pavić.
More news about Croatia and the EBRD can be found in the Business section.
