Disaster risk reduction programme

The goal of this investment is to improve flood protection measures for 20,000 citizens by revitalising watercourses, connecting abandoned sleeves and creating secondary wetland habitats, as well as removing invasive species.

This investment comprises of (i) a flood risk reduction programme that will focus on reduction of flood risks of the largest Croatian rivers of the Danube River basin, and (ii) the revitalisation of freshwater systems, including regeneration and protection of the Mirna River area, Vransko Lake and Trakoscan Lake, as well as the removal of invasive species in the protected Neretva Delta.

The Recovery and Resilience Facility provides funding of EUR 158 million for this investment.

A permanent restricted call to finance this investment was published in December 2021.

More information can be found here.

1. Revitalisation of Stara Drava - Bilje watercourse

Revitalisation project Stara Drava - Bilje (supported through the Recovery and Resilience Facility by EUR 0.9 million) is part of this investment. By increasing the retention capacity in this area, the ecological state of retention will be improved and a more favourable water regime will be established both in dry periods and during flood events, which is aimed at adapting to climate change. This ensures a sufficient capacity, i.e. more frequent exchange, replenishment and refreshment of retention, as well as greater flow throughout the year. As a result of the permanent restricted call published in December 2021, so far 3 kilometres of watercourse have been revitalised within this project.

2. Flood protective structures built

Under the permanent restricted call published in December 2021, a total of 25 projects have been approved for funding through the Recovery and Resilience Facility, with grants amounting to EUR 93.5 million. Through the approved projects, ten of which contributing to flood protection, 23.6 km of flood protective structures were built in order to protect against the harmful effects of water.

The following counties were affected by this investment:

• In Zagreb County, three projects in Orle Municipality and cities Sveta Nedjelja and Vrbovec have benefited from 11.14 km of flood protection structures built, which shall reduce flood risks for the citizens in the area.
• In Zadar County, 1.467 km of Ričine flow regulation in Zadar was built, which shall reduce flood risks for the citizens in the area.
• In Virovitica-Podravina County, a project targeting the Čađavica and Slanac stream helped build 882 meters of flood protection structures, which shall benefit citizens in Hum Varoš and Donje Kusonje.
• In Osijek-Baranja County, two projects in Donji Miholjac City and Popovac Municipality have benefited from 2.36 kilometres of flood protection structures built, which shall reduce flood risks for the citizens in the area.
• In Međimurje County, Goričan and Donji Kraljevec municipalities have benefited from 5.54 kilometres of flood protection structures built, which shall reduce flood risks for the citizens in the area.
• In Sisak-Moslavina County, two projects in Topusko and Jasenovac municipalities have benefited from 2.27 kilometres of flood protection structures built, which shall reduce flood risks for the citizens in the area.

Top 100 recipients:

• Croatian Waters