Croatia has received more than it expected in the European recovery package, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Tuesday after European leaders agreed the next seven-year budget and a post-pandemic fund.

Croatia has over €22 billion at its disposal. Plenkovic said that his goal before the marathon EU summit in Brussels was to secure €20 billion, and double the €10.7 billion from the last 2014-20 European budget.

“The result has surpassed both goals. Croatia isn’t receiving these funds by chance but based on strongly elaborated arguments,” Plenkovic said at a press conference.

Croatia joined the EU in July 2013 and is the only member state to have utilised only one seven-year EU budget.

Plenkovic said the outcome of the summit was a success for Croatia which, he added, would use the money to be more efficient, to quickly recover from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and so that “our fellow citizens will stay to look for their safe future here.”

He said the national plan based on which projects would be realised would be adopted in time and that the national capacities for absorbing the money would be strengthened.

Plenkovic called the agreement of the member states “a huge demonstration of EU solidarity.” “We pooled our resources, our political will, the economic and financial power which enables us to facilitate with such an instrument a quick economic recovery.”

“Only globally must we make an effort so that a medicine or a vaccine is found for COVID-19, and when it is found, we’ll have all the tools to very quickly translate this financial framework into our fellow citizens’ lives,” he said.

Although some leaders demanded the disbursement of the money be made conditional on the rule of law, their final document does not specify if and how payments will be tied to respect for one of Europe’s fundamental principles.

The leaders agreed on a conditionality regime for the sake of protecting the budget, leaving it up to the European Commission to propose measures. Still, all 27 member states will have to adopt the new mechanism.

Plenkovic said that formulation was fair. “We supported the rule of law concept but were also constructive, pushing for a mechanism that will guarantee predictability. We will work together with the other member states on a decree that must be adopted.”