Background information

The Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development announces the Call for submission of project proposals to support companies to transition to an energy- and resource-efficient economy, which will support faster adaptation to current and future environmental requirements and influence the reduction of negative effects on the climate and environment, increased sustainability of production, preservation of existing and creation of new jobs, and strengthening of local and regional competitiveness. The supports are awarded through an open award procedure.

Content of measure

The goal of the Call is to encourage production investments of small and medium-sized and medium-capitalized private companies from energy-intensive industries. The investments relate to the promotion of the circular economy, i.e. the introduction of resource efficiency in the production cycle and product life, as well as the reduction of harmful emissions from energy-intensive industries. Acceptable activities that can be financed are: a) initial investments in tangible and intangible assets for the introduction of new technologies and technological solutions in business processes that result in more efficient use of resources and/or reduction of energy consumption and/or reduction of CO2 emissions; b) investments necessary to stimulate the production of electricity/heat/cooling energy from renewable sources (sun, wind, geothermal); c) implementation of the energy audit of companies for small and medium-sized companies; and d) preparation of technical documentation, project management and project audit related to the transition to energy and resource efficient economy.

Total value of the call is HRK 1,900 million (€252.3 million). The amount of grants that can be awarded per applicant is for small and medium-sized companies from HRK 750,000 to 7,500,000 (€99,602 to 996,016), while for medium capitalized companies: from HRK 2,000,000 to 35,000,000 (€265,604 to 464,807). Eligible applicants are small and medium-sized enterprises and medium-sized private enterprises from energy-intensive industries (classes from sector C according to NACE 2007): food industry (10), textile production (13), wood processing industry (16), paper industry (17), chemical industry (20), manufacturing of non-metallic mineral products (23), and metalworking industry (24). Application period is from 1 August to 1 December 2022.

Use of measure

Total value of the call: HRK 1,900 million (€252.3 million). The amount of grants that can be awarded per applicant is for small and medium-sized companies from HRK 750,000 to 7,500,000 (€99,602 to 996,016), while for medium capitalized companies: from HRK 2,000,000 to 35,000,000 (€265,604 to 464,807). Eligible applicants are small and medium-sized enterprises and medium-sized private enterprises from energy-intensive industries. Application period is from 1 August to 1 December 2022.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Sector specific set of companies SMEs	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	European Funds National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement as case not in social partner domain	No involvement as case not in social partner domain
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

Due to the nature of the measure, social partners were not involved but they always support all measures and forms of the transition to green economy.

Views and reactions

Social partners in Croatia always support all measures and forms of the transition to green economy fully aware of the importance of environment preservation. The Autonomous Trade Union in Power Industry, Chemistry and Non-Metal Industry of Croatia on the conference held on 8-9 March 2022, fully supported the activities of transition to green economy, including various governments grants to green energy production. Trade union underlined the need of trade unions to adjust their activities. This is primarily related to the conditions when many current jobs will be endangered, while the future jobs will require new skills and knowledge from the workers, so they should start with training and education as soon as possible.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 10 March 2022: Socijalni partneri o Zelenom planu (Social partners on the Green Deal) (www.ekn.hr)
• 01 July 2022: Potpora poduzećima za tranziciju na energetski i resursno učinkovito gospodarstvo (The support to companies for the transition to energy and resource efficient economy) (mingor.gov.hr)