The European Union (EU) has launched a number of initiatives to promote eco-innovation and support the implementation of the Environmental Technologies Action Plan under the Competitiveness and Innovation Program. Between 2008 and 2013, nearly €200 million will be available for funding projects that promote eco-innovation in Europe. The objective is to boost Europe’s environmental and competitive standing by supporting innovative solutions that protect the environment while creating a larger market for ‘green’ technologies, management methods, products and services.

Mr. Oriano Otočan, Istra county government member in charge for international collaboration and European integration, described the experiences of using the European funds by the Istra region and the amount that Istra has absorbed so far (more than 8,3 million Euros) for projects that have been developed or are in the implementation stage thanks to EU funds. The European Projects Association was introduced by Miss. Monika Brščić, coordinator of the EPA’s National Contact Point Croatia, while the CIP Eco-innovation program was presented by Miss. Iva Pamić, European projects consultant of EPA’s National Contact Point Croatia. The president of EPA, Mr. Leonardo Piccinetti, explained the Eco-innovation call and how to write the Eco-innovation projects. Further presentations focussed on the services offered by the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, on market transformation and local development through energy efficiency and on the necessary steps to organic certificates for agricultural products.