The City of Ivanic-Grad on Monday presented water-utilities projects to be financed with European Union funds valued at almost HRK 500 million and launched in cooperation with the Hrvatske Vode water management company.

The projects concern the construction of the Zagreb East regional water supply system, development of Ivanic-Grad’s agglomeration, establishment of a modular wood-technology business incubator, and revitalisation of the Lonja river, Ivanic-Grad’s city authorities said.

Environment and Energy Minister Tomislav Coric underscored that several projects were being implemented in Ivanic-Grad and Zagreb County and that Hrvatske Vode and local government were cooperating well in that regard.

Minister Coric commented on media reports about utility companies allegedly considering the possibility of temporarily giving up on water-utility projects financed by the EU.

“Mistakes are possible during different phases in preparing documents, public procurement procedures and works… they aren’t deliberate and the European Commission, which co-funds the majority of the projects, covering 85% of acceptable costs, wants these procedures to be conducted without any mistakes… the water-utilities sector, together with us, is trying to find a solution (to obtain) those funds,” said Coric.