“Strong regions are the driving force of Croatia’s and EU development” is the massage of the round table on “Local and Regional Self-Government – Development Strategy and EU Funds” held 1 March 2014 in Varaždin as part of a series of seminars and round tables on current EU issues titled “Get Informed and Make a Difference”, organized by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in cooperation with the European Commission Representation in Croatia, European Parliament Information Office, Varaždin County and the City of Varaždin.
By Croatia’s joining the EU, regional and local self-government takes on a large share of implementing the European laws, with almost three quarters of laws being implemented at the local level. Also, the regional and local level through its representatives in the Committee of the Regions participated in creating policies and influences the EU legislation. The round table also discussed the challenges of tapping into the EU structural and investment funds during the 2014-2020 period, as well as the role of local and regional self-government units in using EU funds.
The participants underlined the importance of harmonizing the methodology and dynamics of planning at all levels of government, directing local and regional self-government units to use EU funds for financing development projects – which has to be preceded by investing into human resources and project development, stimulating cooperation among units and strengthening public administration capacities on all levels. It is also necessary to involve more actively local and regional self-government units in the process of formulating national positions the purpose of which is to implant Croatia’s interests into the EU acts.
The participants also agreed that the need to inform Croatian citizens was greater than ever, since Croatia as an EU member has an opportunity to co-create a functional Europe in which decisions are being made at a level much closer to the citizens.
Along with Marušić, who also the moderator, the round table saw the participation of Assistant Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds Matija Derk, Director of the Zagreb Institute of Economy Dubravka Jurlina Alibegović, Head of Varaždin County and Croatian representative at the Committee of the Regions Predrag Štromar and Head of Vidovec Municipality and Second Vice-Chairman of the Committee of the Regions Environmental Commission Bruno Hranić.
The day before, 28 February, a seminar for journalists was held on “Local and Regional Self-Government and the Role of Media”. After opening addresses by Marušić, Head of European Commission Representation Branko Baričević and Head of Varaždin County Predrag Štromar, lectures were delivered by Spokesman for EU Budget Patrizio Fiorilli, Manolis Dardoufas and Alin Nica from the Committee of the Regions, Jutarnji List Brussels reporter Augustin Palokaj and euinside editor Adelina Martini.
“Get Informed and Make a Difference” is a series of lectures and round tables that began in Rijeka and Opatija and will continue in Osijek, which are aimed at informing the Croatian citizens and media about the current European topics and the upcoming European Parliament elections.