On Thursday, the European Commission gave a positive preliminary assessment of Croatia's request for the payment of 700 million euros under the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism.

"I have good news for Croatia, which has made progress on the recovery and resilience plan to receive the second payment under the NextGeneration EU instrument. After the member states give the green light, Croatia will receive 700 million euros," said the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

Von der Leyen added that Croatia has taken important steps "toward a green and digital transition, for example by investing heavily in public water management and improving adult education to develop green and digital skills."

On September 19, 2022, Croatia submitted to the Commission a request for payment based on the achievement of 25 key stages and target values ​​selected in the Implementation Decision of the Council for the second payment.

They include fundamental reforms in the field of public administration, justice, social policy, employment, education, skills, energy, energy efficiency and connectivity. Several goals also refer to large investments in the field of water management, the labor market, education, the social and judicial system, as well as in the ecological and digital transition of public bodies, small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-market capitalization companies.