Council for Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem meets

Hina - At Thursday's session of the Council for Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem, in Slatina Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said the government would use the three-year period without elections to focus on the development of Slavonia, Baranja, Srijem, and other regions.

He highlighted the ambition of the EU's new financial framework, which introduces a different approach to funding regional development, and called on Council members to share their comments and point out strengths or weaknesses in the documents to ensure the negotiations with the European Commission benefit Croatia.

Plenković recalled that from 2016 to 2025, the government invested €4.5 billion in the five counties of eastern Croatia, strengthening local governments regardless of their political affiliation.

The session also addressed two regional waste management centres - Šagulje in Brod-Posavina County and Orlovnjak in Osijek-Baranja County - each worth €111 million and scheduled for completion by 2029. Financing arrangements are still being worked out.

Osijek-Baranja County prefect Nataša Tramišak raised the issue of investments in facilities for processing wheat into flour, pasta and other products. It was noted that this year's drought does not pose a threat to wheat as a steppe crop, but that it needs to be processed into finished products.

In contrast, Virovitica-Podravina County prefect Igor Andrović warned that his county is facing serious drought-related problems. June 2025 was the driest and hottest month on record since 1979, he said.

Vukovar-Srijem County prefect Ivan Bosančić called for resolving truck traffic congestion at the Tovarnik border crossing with Serbia, where queues often stretch for more than eight kilometres.

Transport Minister Oleg Butković said major investments are underway in the Dugo Selo-Novska rail corridor, and a contract is soon to be signed for the €100 million Požega-Staro Petrovo Selo road project.

Environmental Protection and Green Transition Minister Marija Vučković, acknowledging the high air pollution levels in Slavonski Brod, said a public call has been issued for investments in solar power plants in Slavonski Brod, Sisak and Kutina. The EU has also allocated €90 million for electric vehicles, she added.

Construction Minister Branko Bačić said that land ownership issues for the new Clinical Hospital Centre in Osijek are being addressed and that the project is close to being launched.

Before the session, relevant ministers handed over 104 contracts worth a total of €96 million to county prefects, mayors and municipal heads.

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