A part of IPA component III programme relates to transportation sector, but the priorities for financing have large infrastructural projects and preparation of such projects. Anyway, the line Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure must envisage and propose a project of such kind.

One of such project is already financed through ISPA programme. This project is related to Vinkovci-Tovarnik-State border railway rehabilitation, where the primary beneficiary is Croatian Railways. There is a possibility that such programmes would be financed through the third component of IPA programme.

The field of lifelong learning is encompassed by Human Resources Development Operational Programme within the scope of IPA component IV programme. The purpose of Resources Development Operational Programme 2007 – 2009 (HRDOP) is capacity building for performing various activities and fulfilling procedural demands of the European Social Fund.

The overall purpose of HRDOP is creating new and better workplaces, attracting and retaining as more employees as possible by increasing investments in human resources, strengthening social inclusion and encouraging flexibility of companies and workers.

Five priorities have been determined in Operational Programme for Human Resources Development (for the time being indicatively due to the fact that the document has not been signed yet)

Priority 1: Improvement of access to employment and sustainable involvement in labour market.

Priority 2: Strengthening of social inclusion and integration of persons who have difficult access to labour market. Priority 3: Increment and improvement of investment in human capital.

Priority 4: Strengthening institutional capacity of public administration in the field of employment and education. Priority 5: Technical assistance (as support to management of OP and preparation of projects).

Measures are defined within every Priority. For the time being the Measure Development of knowledge and conditions for lifelong learning is foreseen for third Priority. Activities to be financed are currently not defined.

Concerning the possibility for financing education of rural population, it is not specifically emphasised as priority, but certain groups could be treated as socially excluded, for example uneducated women in rural areas. Therefore, such programmes could be financed through measures foreseen in Priority 1 and Priority 2.

The possibilities through IPA Regional Competitiveness Operational Programme are limited to business infrastructure in public ownership (information on programme available www.strategija.hr). The details will be available after publication of procurement notice for related project, in the end of the year of 2008. Similar possibilities are available through Cross Border Co-operation Programmes (available in the aforementioned web-page).

The conditions for tender application are determined in each individual invitation to tender. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly monitor the publications on web-pages of the Directorate for Integrated Regional Development (www.mrrsvg.hr) and the Central Finance and Contracting Agency which is responsible for publication of procurement notices (www.safu.hr).

The funds are available for utilities infrastructure for business zones, especially to local community and companies owned by counties or cities and municipalities.

If you are interested in capital investment, its realisation from the EU funds is not possible. However, there is a possibility of co-financing of consulting services of certain kind, for example, through tender opportunity for Phare 2006 Support for Increasing Competitiveness and Exports of Croatian SMEs which was opened until the end of April 2008. or through similar project through 2009 in the framework of IPA Operational Programme for Regional Competitiveness IPA. Tender from a new programme will be announced by the Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship.