The financial mechanisms of the European Economic Area and the Kingdom of Norway contribute to the reduction of social and economic inequalities in Europe and strengthen bilateral cooperation between donor countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and beneficiary countries. For the period 2014-2021, the Republic of Croatia has been allocated 103.4 million euros. The role of the National Focal Point is played by the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds.
Within the Contract for which WYG was hired, three programmes were evaluated:
- Local Development and Poverty Reduction
- Justice and Home Affairs
- Energy and Climate Change
The Local Development and Poverty Reduction (LDPR) Programme in Croatia was designed to foster social and economic cohesion by promoting inclusive, sustainable development, primarily through education. With a strong emphasis on STEM disciplines, the programme enhanced the skills and competencies of primary school teachers and students. Key investments were made to improve classroom infrastructure, the overall learning environment, and provide targeted support for underserved regions and students with special educational needs, including both gifted children and those with disabilities. The programme’s impact extended beyond education by also contributing to employment opportunities, self-employment, and regional disaster preparedness planning.
The LDPR Programme had a total budget of €32.26 million, primarily funded by the European Economic Area (EEA) and Norway Grants, along with national co-financing. Of this, €30.03 million was spent, resulting in a fund absorption rate slightly above 93%. Implemented through 34 projects, the LDPR Programme achieved all its targets, delivering five major outcomes: enhanced educator competencies, improved STEM skills among students, increased educational equity for students with disabilities, better national and regional strategic planning, and an improved knowledge base for seismic risk policy development.
The Justice and Home Affairs Programme, overseen by the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation, aimed to strengthen the rule of law and improve the Croatian judicial and correctional systems. With a maximum budget of €17.65 million (€15 million from Norway Grants and €2.65 million from national funding), the programme achieved a 93% absorption rate. Its overarching goals were realised through two primary outcomes: improved judiciary effectiveness and better correctional services.
To achieve these, four pre-defined projects (PDPs) were implemented. Three of these supported judicial efficiency:
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PDP 1: Reconstruction of the Municipal Court Building in Split and enhancement of e-services.
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PDP 3: Methodology revision for evaluating judges’ performance.
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PDP 4: Strengthening court-annexed mediation systems.
The fourth project, PDP 2, targeted correctional services, focusing on improving the Croatian probation system and enhancing human rights and public safety.
The Energy and Climate Change Programme, funded with €20 million (€17 million from EEA grants and €3 million in national co-financing), supported Croatia’s transition to a clean energy future. The programme’s core objective was to reduce carbon intensity and enhance energy security. It achieved an impressive 98.63% fund absorption rate, with all 38 projects successfully completed.
Its outcomes focused on improved energy efficiency and increased renewable energy production. Under the energy efficiency outcome, a National Training Centre for Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB) was established through a project led by the Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar, in collaboration with the University of Zagreb. The renovation of the institute’s building to nZEB standards included major energy system upgrades and photovoltaic installation. The renewable energy outcome supported 37 projects through competitive calls and small grant schemes covering solar, geothermal, and marine energy solutions, as well as geothermal data development.
The evaluation process across all three programmes involved methodological development, literature reviews, interviews, and field visits. It assessed their relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability. The evaluation confirmed that all programmes contributed significantly to reducing social and economic disparities and enhancing bilateral relations, thus fulfilling the financial mechanisms’ overarching objectives.