Source: MMPI
4.6 billion euros have been invested in the Croatian islands in the last ten years. New contracts worth 25 million euros will further improve the infrastructure, healthcare, education and quality of life of the islanders.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković participated in the 1st session of the Island Council in Postire on the island of Brač yesterday. Ahead of the session, 104 contracts worth almost 25 million euros were awarded by the Ministry of Regional Development and European Union Funds and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition.
Pointing out that Croatia has 52 inhabited islands, the Prime Minister reminded that in the ten years of this Government’s mandate, 4.6 billion euros have been invested in them. Compared to 2025, investments have increased by 553 million euros.
When it comes to tourism, he added, the islands account for almost a quarter of all tourist overnight stays in Croatia and have a special significance in the development of sustainable and year-round tourism.
We also look at the islands through investments in important transport and communal infrastructure. Likewise, through policies of demographic revitalization, better healthcare services, energy transition, digitalization, economic development, and climate change resilience policies.
The island register is also being improved. This approach has successfully implemented as many as 5,400 projects on Croatian islands.
Accessible and quality healthcare
A special mechanism for seven coastal counties has made strides that were previously unimaginable. The Prime Minister also pointed out that Croatia is also participating in the development of the European Union’s strategy for island development.
The new measures have also improved the system of emergency maritime medical services. That is, mobile clinics, mobile pharmacies and emergency helicopter medical services. The base on Brač covers a large part of the Croatian Adriatic.
Since its establishment two years ago, the emergency medical service has carried out 4,000 interventions, he said, adding that investments in healthcare will continue. Especially in the specialization of doctors, strengthening health centers, telemedicine and the digitalization of the healthcare system. Healthcare should be as accessible and of the highest quality as possible for all islanders.
Development of educational infrastructure
As for education, which is already a priority for the Government as part of the 3.2 billion euro investment cycle across the country, the islands are currently constructing, expanding and equipping 20 kindergartens, which will provide 872 new places for children on the islands. There are also 9 projects for the construction and reconstruction of primary schools and sports halls.
Schools on Brač and Korčula are included in the all-day school pilot project, Prime Minister Plenković added.
Additionally, the Government, through the model of fiscal sustainability of kindergartens, has helped many local government units to have adequate funds for their financing.
One of the key issues in Croatian society at the moment is the issue of affordable housing. This is precisely why the National Housing Policy Plan was adopted, which is also being implemented on our islands.
Strengthening water management and energy security
Regarding water supply, the Prime Minister stated that 92 percent of the island’s residents are connected to the public water supply system.
Since 2016, 324 million euros have been invested in water management.
Among the projects that will be implemented in the coming period, he highlighted additional connections from Omiš to Brač, Brač to Šolta, and the development of the water supply system on the Zadar islands and on Mljet.
In recent years, 86 million euros have been invested in the transmission and distribution network on the islands. Investments are also being made in the energy renovation of houses, solar power plants, smart city and municipal projects, and the modernization of island infrastructure.
At the end of his introductory address, he invited everyone present to draw attention to what they believe still needs to be improved and fixed, because those who live on the islands can do this best.
The political will and openness to resolve all these issues is very strong and clear, he said.
He congratulated the 23 new producers who were included in the Croatian Island Product label, which supports the quality, tradition and recognition of these products.
The session continued with discussions on Croatian islands as a development resource, projects to improve maritime connectivity and infrastructure on the islands, investments in the islands through operational programs for fisheries and aquaculture, and projects for the electricity grid on the islands.
