Croatia allocates €7 million for projects aiding Croats in Bosnia

Croatia Bosnia and Herzegovina Croat community EU cross‑border funding €7 million

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced that the Croatian government has allocated more than seven million euros to projects for the Croatian community in Bosnia and Herzegovina under the 2026 “Program of Support for Croats in BiH”. The funds cover a range of cross‑border initiatives, including infrastructure, education and energy projects.

In the Vukovar‑Srijem County, a €140,742 grant was awarded for the “Investments that connect the community” project with the town of Široki Brijeg, of which €107,841 will finance a multifunctional hall for a vocational school. Additional contracts were signed for fire‑brigade equipment and other community facilities, financed through EU regional development funds.

The programme also aims to facilitate investments from the Croatian diaspora, with West Herzegovina authorities pledging simplified procedures for entrepreneurs from abroad. Officials said the combined effort is intended to improve living standards, support the retention of the Croat population in BiH, and boost economic cooperation between the two countries.

Entities: Andrej Plenković · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Croat community in Bosnia and Herzegovina · Croatian Government · Croatian gas pipeline partnership · Darijana Filipović · Government of Croatia · Grad Široki Brijeg · Ivan Bosančić · Vukovar‑Srijem County · Vukovar‑Srijemska županija · Široki Brijeg

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 3 SOURCES] The Croatian government delivered 276 contracts worth approximately €7 million to projects for Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. (70555ad5-5c3e-40ef-9f22-16a102a94d0f, c698222c-d625-4327-ae6e-5572c8ab11d8, c95d92f7-3532-4cad-9ba9-a928d17e4f8c)
[● 3 SOURCES] The programme “Support for Croats in BiH” is administered by Croatia’s Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds. (70555ad5-5c3e-40ef-9f22-16a102a94d0f, c698222c-d625-4327-ae6e-5572c8ab11d8, c95d92f7-3532-4cad-9ba9-a928d17e4f8c)
[● 2 SOURCES] The cross‑border project intends to strengthen cooperation, institutional linking, and improve services for children and youths with developmental challenges. (b754360c-dfa9-4ea7-9486-41b70830e4ef, 972e9355-119e-4a1a-bd97-5d458c3e2b76)
[● 2 SOURCES] Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina signed a South Interconnection gas pipeline agreement, described as strategic cooperation. (c95d92f7-3532-4cad-9ba9-a928d17e4f8c, c698222c-d625-4327-ae6e-5572c8ab11d8)
[● 2 SOURCES] Vukovar‑Srijemska županija received a grant of €140,742.83 for a cross‑border project with the Bosnian municipality of Široki Brijeg. (b754360c-dfa9-4ea7-9486-41b70830e4ef, 972e9355-119e-4a1a-bd97-5d458c3e2b76)
[● 2 SOURCES] €107,841.14 of the Vukovar grant will finance a multifunctional hall for a vocational school in Široki Brijeg. (b754360c-dfa9-4ea7-9486-41b70830e4ef, 972e9355-119e-4a1a-bd97-5d458c3e2b76)
[● 2 SOURCES] €32,901.69 of the Vukovar grant will be directed to the Development Agency of Vukovar‑Srijemska županija. (b754360c-dfa9-4ea7-9486-41b70830e4ef, 972e9355-119e-4a1a-bd97-5d458c3e2b76)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The total amount allocated by the programme for 2026 is €6.95 million. (c698222c-d625-4327-ae6e-5572c8ab11d8)