World Bank loans Croatia 26 million euros

The loan is to be used to modernise the court's information systems, educate staff and improve infrastructure, Justice Minister says.

ZAGREB, April 13, 2010 (AFP) - Croatia and the World Bank signed on Tuesday a 26-million-euro (35-million-dollar) loan for improving efficiency of the country's judiciary, a key aspect of its EU bid, a statement said.

"This loan will support the strengthening of the judicial system and the implementation of reform measures aimed at aligning the judicial sector to European Union standards," a World Bank statement quoted Finance Minister Ivan Suker as saying.

The loan is to be used to modernise the court's information systems, educate staff and improve infrastructure, Justice Minister Ivan Simonovic said.

It carries a two-percent interest rate and is due for repayment after 18 years.

So far the World Bank has approved 46 loans to Croatia amounting to around three billion dollars (2.2 billion euros) as well as 51 grants totaling 71 million dollars (52 million euros).

The former Yugoslav republic hopes to be ready to join the EU by 2012.