Program of integrated physical, economic and social regeneration of small towns Mr Ivo Vrandečić Loje About the Program • The Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds (MRDEUF) and the Ministry of Labour and Pension System (MLPS) are implementing this Program within Operational Program Competitiveness and Cohesion (SO 9b1) and Operational Program Efficient Human Resources 2014-2020 (SO 9i2). • A new approach to integrated physical, economic and social regeneration of deprived areas. • The Program is being piloted in five small towns: Knin, Beli Manastir/Darda, Benkovac, Petrinja and Vukovar. • Total allocation of 120 million EUR → 100 million from the ERDF and 20 million from the ESF. Current results • Methodology for the implementation of the Program was developed. • Intervention plans were prepared as strategic and operative documents and prerequisite for the implementation of the Program. o These encompass wide spectre of infrastructure projects - educational, cultural, entrepreneurship facilities, roads, public surfaces etc. (ERDF financed) and human resources development projects (ESF financed). o Intervention plans were developed by small towns with the active involvement of local partnerships. • Calls for proposals were launched for submitting project proposals for the projects listed in the intervention plans. • By now, 15 calls for proposals were launched (13 ERDF+2 ESF), 102 contracts signed (87 + 15) with total grant value of 321 million HRK (306 + 15) and 113 million HRK disbursed (all ERDF). Future activities • Further coordinating, assisting and monitoring of implementation of the Program in the five pilot areas. • Conducting mid term evaluation of the Program • Participation in the drafting the programming period 2021-2027 scheme • Extension of the Program ✓ New areas have been selected ✓ New intervention plans are being developed • Scope of the extended Program and modality of project implementation will depend on the results of evaluation and new programming period scheme. .