National Development Strategy Croatia 2030: Roadmap for a Better Future

Required actions 
•
Continue with investments in cogeneration and district heating systems for efficiency improvement, 
service expansion, promote renewable energy sources (e.g. geothermal and biomass in district heat-
ing).
•
Launch long term residential energy efficiency programs based on a prioritization of categories of 
building to be rehabilitated.
•
Further develop long-term financing instruments and models, alongside the traditional financing, 
grants and other support schemes. Consider an upgraded ESCO model to deepen and expand ESCO 
services.
Waste management and water utilities 
Broad areas for policy interventions
•
Speed-up progress on improving waste management by strengthening regulatory and fiscal incentives 
for regional and local units to move forward with the implementation of the waste management plan, 
accelerate investments into waste management facilities and build capacities to achieve recycling tar-
gets.
•
Implement comprehensive water utility reorganization process, based on aggregation of water utilities, 
aimed at efficiency improvement, sustainability and affordability of service provision. 
•
Ensure provision of reliable and safe water supply for the entire population and economy. 
•
Strengthen capacity for project preparation and implementation of EU financed investments in the 
water sector by centralizing a larger part of project preparation activities
•
Prepare and execute an action plan fostering transfer from linear to circular economy comprising a set 
of regulatory, economic and informative policy instruments.
•
Fulfil the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) requirements, through investments into 
development and expansion of wastewater collection and treatment facilities, with a particular focus 
to sensitive areas with rapidly growing environmental pressure.