Minister for Regional Development and EU Funds, Gabrijela Zalac, signed in the northern Adriatic port city of Pula on Friday contracts worth 100 million kuna (€13.5 million) for the restoration works on local natural heritage sites, the acquisition of eco-friendly buses for the city's public transport system, and the construction of a hospice.

The figure includes some 49 million kuna (€6.6 million) from EU funding.

Zalac told reporters that EU grants such as this one represent an important contribution to a more even development of all of Croatia’s regions. She added that these contracts were also important for further development of tourism in the area.

Istria County prefect Valter Flego said sustainable development, including the one related to the management of natural heritage sites, was his county’s priority. He added that he also discussed future projects with Zalac, notably in the area of rural development, and that additional projects were underway for Croatia-Slovenia and Croatia-Italy cross-border cooperation programmes.

“Istria wants to develop a sustainable tourist industry, and in its protected nature areas there’s still lots of room for improving and better organising the stays of tourists as well as the local population,” said Flego.

(€1 = 7.39 kuna)

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