Over €500M expected from European Solidarity Fund for post-quake reconstruction of Zagreb

(Photo: HINA/ Tomislav PAVLEK)

ZAGREB, May 28 (Hina) – Regional Development and EU Funds Minister Marko Pavic said on Thursday that soon Croatia would apply to the European Solidarity Fund for the reconstruction of Zagreb after the March 22 earthquake and that it expected to receive over €500 million.

Responding to questions from the press ahead of a cabinet meeting, Pavic said the deadline to apply was June 14 and that he expected Croatia, i.e. the City of Zagreb, to receive over €500 million.

The estimate of the damage will be finished this week and it must be done according to a methodology recognised by the European Commission, Pavic added.

He said a €100 million advance from the ESF was expected this summer, the maximum amount that could be received.

He recalled that a US$ 200 million loan was being arranged with the World Bank for dealing with the effects of the quake and that the government set aside HRK 141 million for urgent repairs.