Less paperwork and more jobs to come as a result.
In order for Croatia to manage to withdraw 10.7 billion euros available from the European funds, the tender procedures will be simplified. This will facilitate the work of public sector employees on the EU projects. Also, because there are not enough public servants for this kind of work, new job vacancies will be announced probably this week, reports HRT on March 29, 2016.
Sobočan Interijeri company from Mursko Središće was among the first in Croatia to withdraw money from the European structural funds. They used it to expand their plant and technological capacity, thus creating new jobs. Towards the end of 2014, when they started the project, they had 86 workers, while today they employ 146 people. It was not easy being first – the tender procedure was much more demanding than it is today.
It seems that entrepreneurs who will apply for new tenders at the beginning of May will have to submit less paperwork. The work of the administration will have to speed up. The submitted projects will be processed within three months. Before, the average processing time was six months. This is why contests are being launched at the ministries and agencies to hire people who will work on the European projects. “The European commission is providing technical support and every job in the EU sector is being co-financed at 85 percent of the total costs”, said Tomislav Tolušić, Regional Development and EU Funds Minister.
Central Financing and Contracting Agency will hire 25 employees for the EU projects, while 13 young people will be given the opportunity to have a one-year professional training. However, it is much more of a problem to keep those competent young professionals in the public sector, as the salaries in the private sector are much more attractive. But, many do decide to stay – for a good work atmosphere. New jobs and simpler procedures should enable entrepreneurs to withdraw from the European funds much more money than in previous years.
