Factsheet for measure
HR-2024-42/3582
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Updated
– measures in Croatia
Umag as shining example in the green transition
Umag kao svjetli primjer zelene tranzicije
Background information
The city of Umag on the Istrian peninsula is one of the leaders of the Croatian green transition. Back in 2010, the local government initiated commendable projects whose primary goals were environmental protection and reducing their ecological footprint. At that time, they had three basic guidelines: gasification, waste management, and water protection. The primary activity was the construction of an agglomeration with a purifier. The gasification is now finished and operational, and the same applies to waste management. The City government rehabilitated one part of a landfill in 2017, and now the second part is in the final phase of rehabilitation. A recycling yard and a sorting plant for inert construction waste are under construction, which will be the only one in all of Istria. As for the water protection area, it has been built and the agglomeration is ongoing and being developed. A purification device has also been constructed and is currently in trial operations.
Content of measure
As the Croatian green transition takes firm hold, the main topic is renewable energy. Umag is very much oriented towards solar power plants and the development of green areas. Back in 2014, when everything went through the individual cities themselves, over 200 contracts were signed with citizens for renewable sources. After that, everything went through the funds, and the City decided to help them by co-financing the project documentation. In 2025, the City will also co-finance the installation of a power plant. In addition, Umag itself is working on the construction of solar power plants on its buildings. Recently, the City government started designing the first power plant for the construction of the new market with a power of about 30 kW, which will cover the consumption of the market, and the rest will be fed back into the network.
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
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15 August 2025
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A just energy transition is not just an ecological but also a social and economic necessity, the purpose of which is to build a sustainable and fairer society in the era of clean energy. The city of Umag is located within the County of Istria, which participates in the Just Energy Transition for Central Europe (JETforCE) project. The project will support the partner regions of Central Europe to digitally involve their citizens so that, through the use of digital tools, they can jointly design and implement the energy transition. The project idea is based on the principle that citizens need the opportunity to contribute to measures that affect their life, work, and opportunities in the context of the green energy transition. However, for quality inclusion of citizens in decision-making processes, they need to be provided with knowledge and appropriate information. During the three-year project, the JETforCE consortium plans to develop two new solution tools for the digital engagement of citizens in the creation and improvement of policies related to the green transition. JETforCE aims to improve local and regional energy planning, equipping public authorities and stakeholders with the knowledge and digital solutions needed to develop a just energy transition framework that will actively involve citizens, especially those from vulnerable groups. Furthermore, the goal is to analyze energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies through a socio-economic lens. The JETforCE project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and will be implemented from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2026. The project value is € 2.37 million, with 80% co-financing from the European Regional Development Fund. In Istria County, activities are focused on raising awareness of the necessity of a just energy transition and involving citizens in policy-making processes. The pilot activities will encourage additional education, retraining of the workforce, and lifelong learning for scarce occupations in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.
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Use of measure
Designing solar power plants for schools, kindergartens, a retirement home and the People’s Open University in the city center is in the final phase. Together, all this should be 330 kW, and the return on the investment should be seven years. Using this more practical approach to the Croatian green transition, relatively large areas that have the proper infrastructure can be connected to the network with minimal costs. This implies several hectares in total, and spread across several locations. These projects will mostly serve to supply energy to the grid.
Target groups
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Workers
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Businesses
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Citizens
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Does not apply to workers
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Does not apply to businesses
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Applies to all citizens
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Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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Local / regional government
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Local funds
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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No involvement as case not in social partner domain
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No involvement as case not in social partner domain
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Form
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Not applicable
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Not applicable
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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No involvement
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Main level of involvement: N/A
Involvement
Due to the nature of the measure, social partners were not directly involved. However, they support measures intended for the preservation of the environment, particularly keeping in mind that this part of Istria is a well-known touristic resort.
Views and reactions
Local social partners were not directly involved, but they fully supported all measures directed toward the protection of the environment and energy efficiency.
Sources
