Erste, HUP Agreement With EU

HUP director and president of the Board of Directors of Erste banka have signed a co-operation agreement on EU programmes.

The Croatian Employers' Association (HUP) director, Djuro Popijac, and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Erste & Steiermärkische bank, Petar Radakovic, signed a cooperation agreement on European Union programmes for the period 2007-2013 with the aim of stimulating companies to use European funds.

The signing of the agreement coincides with the beginning of a new EU investment cycle, programmes defined for the next seven years, the Bankamagazine.hr portal writes.

New pre-accession IPA fund

In the coming period, Croatia will use the new pre-accession IPA (Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance) fund which consolidates former PHARE, ISPA and SAPARAD programmes. According to an announced European Commission proposal, 138.5 million euros will be at Croatia`s disposal in 2007 through this programme.

The programme will consist of five components: transition and institution establishment, regional and cross-border co-operation, regional development, human potential development and rural development.