EUR 10 bln to be invested in nature protection in Croatia until 2025

ZAGREB, Oct 30 (Hina) - Nearly EUR 10 billion will be invested in water and waste management and environment protection in Croatia until 2025, was said at the start of a three-day visit of a European Parliament delegation to the Croatian Parliament on Tuesday.

Most of these funds will be invested in water management - around EUR 4.5 billion, 3.5 billion will be earmarked for waste management and 2 billion to protect the environment, the chairman of the Croatian Parliament's Environment and Nature Protection Committee, Branko Bacic, said after the meeting.

The European Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) delegation was interested in Croatia's energy system and its readiness to introduce strict environment protection criteria. The head of the delegation Jo Leinen later said that he was optimistic that Croatia would satisfy all European standards in food quality and environment and air protection.

Bacic recalled that Croatia had temporarily closed the environment chapter, seeking a transition period particularly where large investments were required. He informed that Croatia had overhauled 150 dumps and that two waste management centres valued at EUR 100 million were currently under construction.

Committee member and former environment protection minister Mirela Holy said that legislation was being prepared that would simplify current procedures relating to renewable energy sources.

The EU delegation showed interest in control mechanisms being in place at border crossings as of 1 January 2013 for the purpose of implementing new European directives relating to the labelling of food products.