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Zagreb - HRK 4.39 billion (€583m) was invested in the Croatian Adriatic islands in 2021, the largest amount ever, Spomenka Đurić, state secretary at the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds, said in Parliament on Wednesday while presenting a report on the effects of implementation of the Islands Act.
Of the HRK 4.39 billion invested in 2021, HRK 4.17 billion (€554m) accounted for grants, which is an increase of 19% from 2020, Đurić told legislators.
Between 2006 and 2021, a total of HRK 32.18 billion (€4.27bn) was invested, or about HRK 2 billion (€265m) on average annually, she added.
The highest revenues were generated in the construction, retail and hospitality sectors, and the highest average net monthly wage was paid in Sutivan on the southern island of Brač, of HRK 7,222 (€959).
Đurić said that the islands had lost part of the population between the last two censuses, but that the decrease was considerably lower than that at national level.
"Population increased on 22 islands and fell on 28, while remaining stable on one island," she said.
During the discussion on the report, opposition MPs warned that the funding invested had not increased living standards on the islands. They drew attention to the problem of health care and called for projects promoting the use of renewable energy sources.
On the other hand, lawmakers from the ruling coalition expressed satisfaction with the volume and effects of the investments in the islands.
"Specific measures by the government are effectively contributing to the demographic and economic revitalisation of our islands," said Danica Baričević (HDZ).
Ivana Kekin (Green-Left Bloc) said that the report confirmed that the sole purpose of the islands and coast was for some people to make easy money during the tourist season. "Nowhere is it shown in this report that the funds invested have improved and raised the quality of life on the islands, notably the quality and availability of public services," she said.
Davor Dretar (Homeland Movement) drew attention to the problem of healthcare on the islands, saying that doctors were leaving and many were about to retire. He said that young doctors and medical professionals should be motivated to come and work on the islands.
Ante Kujundžić (Bridge) also spoke of the problem of medical services on the islands, while Anka Mrak Taritaš (GLAS) said that projects promoting the use of renewable energy sources should be given priority on the islands.
(€1 = HRK 7.53)