photo: https://www.hzinfra.hr/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Panelisti-Savic-Bilaver-Sostaric-Barisic-Vavra-moderator-Togonal.jpg/In Croatia, there was a debate on the use of NPOO funds and EU funds in the field of transport and logistics
Zonimir Savić, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Chief Economist of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, Josip Bilaver, State Secretary for the Sea and EU Funds at the Ministry of the Sea, Marko Šoštarić, professor at the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences, Darko Barišić, consultant to the Management Board of HŽ Infrastruktura, Boris Vavra, from the company Primacošped, and moderator Mislav Togonal were participants of a panel discussion organized by the Croatian Chamber of Commerce and the Faculty of Transport Sciences in Zagreb.
The discussion entailed the use of funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NPOO) and EU funds in the field of transport and logistics.
“So far, we are at the very top of the European Union when it comes to withdrawing available funds. We did everything to make the readiness of the transport sector as high as possible so that we could use all the investments,” said Zvonimir Savić.
Josip Bilaver talked about the fact that due to the developments of motorways, no significant investments were made into railways until a few years ago. But that does not mean they are giving up on the set goals.
Marko Šoštarić noted that the sustainability of transportation is going to be highly encouraged, as can be seen within the EU plans for the future, and freight transportation will be moving to the railways as much as possible.
Boris Varva offered words of realism when he said that diesel is still irreplaceable as far as road transportation goes and that while hydrogen or gas are great alternatives to diesel, charging infrastructure needs improving for a wider application.
The Plan is worth HRK 47 billion (€6.22 billion) and has five components. HRK 5.5 billion (€727 million) is for the development of a competitive energy-sustainable and efficient transportation system. From that a large part is intended to be invested in railways.
Through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan an investment of HRK 1.7 billion (€224 million) by HŽ Infrastruktura in railway infrastructure is to happen until 2026. Reconstruction of the existing and construction of the second railway track on the section Dugo Selo – Novska, subsection Kutina – Novska, modernization of the railway M604 Oštarije – Knin – Split, removal of the so-called bottlenecks in the railway infrastructure and the modernization of the section Zagreb Kustošija – Zagreb ZK – Zagreb GK.