A report on the absorption of European Structural and Investment Funds shows that from mid-2013, when it joined the EU, to 15 July this year Croatia drew 42.3 billion kuna (€5.6 billion) more from the EU budget than it had paid into it.

Croatia has 81.58 billion kuna (€10.7 billion) from ESIF at its disposal for the 2014-20 period, according to data which the Regional Development and EU Funds Ministry released on Thursday.

By 15 July this year, projects worth €13.04 billion were contracted, €6.2 billion was paid out (57 percent of the allocation), and €5.2 billion was spent as intended (48.3 percent of the allocation).

Between 30 June 2020 and 15 July 2021, €2.8 billion was contracted, €2.2 billion was paid out and €1.87 billion was spent as intended.

The Operational Programme Competitiveness and Cohesion accounted for the highest percentage of funds contracted (130.7 percent of the allocation), while the Rural Development Programme accounted for the highest percentage of payments (74.8 percent of the allocation).