The grants for Lećevica are still in the project documentation review phase.
The continuation of financing for the construction of four waste management centers, including the Lećevica WMC, was discussed at the last government session, which adopted an amendment to the draft decision, which was adopted in December last year. It was concluded that it is necessary to complete their construction in order to meet obligations under EU legislation.
Namely, the Croatian Waste Management Plan for the period until 2028 contains a number of measures and obligations that need to be fulfilled in accordance with EU directives. In addition, goals have been set to increase waste separation and recycling to 65 percent and reduce waste disposal to 10 percent by 2035.
As a reminder, at the session held on 12 December 2024, the Government adopted a Decision on the continuation of financing the construction of four waste management centers, among which the Waste Management Center (WMC) Lećevica stands out. This decision enables further co-financing of the construction of the WMC, which is crucial for improving the waste management system in Croatia.
Ministry: Lećevica plays a key role in meeting the goals of the Waste Management Plan
According to estimates, the total eligible costs for the construction of the four centers, including the Lećevica WMC, amount to EUR 303.931.536,91. Of this amount, EU funds from the European Regional Development Fund cover EUR 181.657.740,77, while the remaining part will be financed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition and the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund.
The Lećevica Waste Management Center, whose total estimated costs are EUR 92.933.838,55, will be co-financed by the Fund up to a maximum of EUR 9.210.272,38, which represents 9,91% of the total project costs. This center, along with the other three locations, plays a key role in meeting the goals of the Waste Management Plan of the Republic of Croatia for the period 2023-2028 - the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition emphasized.
Grants for Lećevica are still in the project documentation review phase
The Government also granted the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition consent to assume obligations from the state budget in the period from 2026 to 2028, in the total amount of EUR 187.569.464,79. These funds will be used to conclude co-financing agreements and award grants for WMC construction projects.
Within the framework of the Competitiveness and Cohesion Programme 2021-2027, grant agreements have been signed so far for the Babina Gora, Lučino Razdolje and Piškornica WMCs, while the project documentation for Lećevica WMC is still in the review phase. It is expected that the completion of the construction of these centers will significantly contribute to the improvement of the waste management system in Croatia, the Ministry states, adding that the conditions for contracting the second phase of the construction of Lećevica WMC have been met.
The decision to continue financing the construction of the Lećevica WMC and other centers represents an important step towards sustainable development and environmental protection, and the Government of the Republic of Croatia continues to work on improving waste management infrastructure to ensure a better quality of life for citizens and the protection of natural resources, it was concluded.
Photo: archive (RCCO)
