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New Calls from the Environmental Protection Fund Worth 26.2 Million Euros

The Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund is announcing six new public calls this week, totaling 26.2 million euros, aimed at waste management projects, climate change adaptation, and the development of infrastructure for electric vehicle charging.

Depending on the call, these non-repayable funds will be available to local units, companies in the private and public sectors, healthcare institutions, homes for the elderly, and children’s homes, the Fund announced on Monday.

The largest amount of funding, as much as 17 million euros, is allocated for climate change adaptation, which is, as they stated, five million euros more than last year. This is an investment in the future of the environment and municipalities, especially considering extreme weather events. The co-financing rates for projects depend on the areas in which they are implemented and range from 40, 60, to 80 percent, with a maximum amount per project of 350 thousand euros, the Fund reported.

Such a percentage of co-financing is also available for the procurement of devices to prevent the generation of biowaste (food waste) in hospitals and specialized hospitals, in homes for the elderly, and children’s homes. The Fund states that this is a continuation of a program that financed similar devices for hotels and student centers, which achieved excellent results in reducing the volume of food waste that ultimately ended up in landfills. As part of this program, efforts are also made to influence the reduction of this waste through educational materials, and a total of 840 thousand euros is available for these programs.

Up to 250 thousand euros for the construction of mini transfer stations for separated waste on islands

For local government units based on islands, the Fund will co-finance the construction of mini transfer stations for the temporary storage, preparation, and transfer of separately collected municipal waste for its transport to the mainland and further recovery and disposal, with three million euros, in order to achieve the goals of the circular economy and protect the nature of our islands. Up to 250 thousand euros in non-repayable funds can be obtained per project.

This year, the Fund has also prepared a financing program for the preparation of pilot projects related to the utilization of the energy potential of waste as a resource, worth 400 thousand euros. For the preparation of project-technical documentation, users can receive 100 percent financing, or up to 50 thousand euros.

The Fund also emphasizes that it will encourage the establishment of infrastructure for electric vehicle charging with five million euros. Up to 20 thousand euros will be available to legal entities from the public sector that have more than 20 parking spaces in front of their buildings. Regarding incentives for such vehicles, the Fund announces that this public call is planned to be published in the fall.

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