According to the MoU, the two sides agreed to develop joint projects in the sectors of production and transmission of electricity from renewable resources, improving energy efficiency measures in buildings, developing green mobility, and further development of a circular economy.
“The EIB will extend its support to the Croatian Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development and back their key energy and climate initiatives such as the National Energy and Climate Plan. The partners will also cooperate to maximise opportunities stemming from the EU programmes such as the InvestEU, Green Deal Investment Plan, and the Just Transition Fund,” the EIB said in a press release on its web site.
Dario Scannapieco, Vice President of the EIB, in charge of the operations in Croatia said: “This agreement is win-win cooperation on the common goals related to energy, resilience and climate projects in Croatia. It will also allow the country to maximise the opportunities stemming from various EU programmes, funds and initiatives and attract more finances for key operations, which will help the recovery of Croatian economy from both COVID-19 pandemic and the two devastating earthquakes the Country suffered from,” the press release says.
Minister Tomislav Ćorić underscores that Croatia supports projects for the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in the EU and that this is an opportunity to develop Croatia’s economy.
“Our goal of renewable energy till 2030 is ambitious but achievable. We also have a lot of new green projects that will decarbonize our economy and we see EIB as a strong partner in implementation of those projects,” underscored Ćorić, as carried by EIB’s press release.
Ognian Zlatev, Head of European Commission Representation in Croatia, noted that this cooperation will help Croatia to maximise the great opportunities created by the European Commission’s Green Deal and to successfully implement its ambitious plan in the field of energy and climate change in line with the EU target to be climate-neutral by 2050, the press release added.
The partners agreed on a coordinated effort to create long-terms conditions for the sustainable development of Croatia.
The MoU outlines the support the EIB will extend to the Ministry in the implementation of the National Energy and Climate Plan and its Recovery and Resilience Plan, as well as in implementation of major energy efficiency projects in the country, both contributing towards Croatia`s and the EU`s energy and climate goals.
The EIB will provide technical and advisory support to the Ministry so that it can increase the absorption of EU funds and find the most favourable opportunities to finance projects combined with the EIB’s financial products, the press release said.
