The Croatian government has launched a new funding initiative to support the return of Croats to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
With grants of up to €80,000 per project, this programme aims to encourage sustainable return, reintegration, and improved living conditions for Croats in BiH.
Learn more about eligibility, objectives, and how this initiative supports Croatian communities abroad.
Croatian Government Announces Funding to Support the Return of Croats to Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Croatian government this week issued a public call for the financing of projects aimed at encouraging the return of Croats to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The project is directed towards legal entities and associations registered in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a maximum of €80,000 available per project.
The deadline for submitting applications is 4 August.
Focus on Return, Reintegration, and Local Sustainability
The aim of this public call is to support projects focused on the return, reintegration, and retention of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, contributing to an improved quality of life and long-term sustainability in local communities.
The call outlines specific expectations for the projects.
These are the main measures listed in the announcement, which we present as written:
– Encouragement of sustainable return of the population to the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina through financial support to associations and other legal entities whose operations can assist in the return and whose activities contribute to the creation of better and higher quality living conditions, as well as the prerequisites for remaining;
– Promotion of economic activities for economic development, support for the establishment of returnee centres through which assistance and support programmes for returnees would be implemented, and encouragement of the reconstruction and/or construction of communal and social infrastructure;
– Support for institutions for persons with various needs and activities directed at socially vulnerable categories, such as victims of violence, single parents, etc., as well as support for programmes and projects to improve healthcare services;
– Support for the development of programmes and projects aimed at encouraging return, raising public awareness about the problems and difficulties faced by returnees, and highlighting successful returnee stories as encouragement and motivation for return.
Concerns About Practicality and Scale of Funding
To many, the funds allocated for this purpose may seem too modest, and the goals may appear to be worded in overly administrative language, which could prove difficult to implement in practice.
There is certainly some truth to that.
However, it is important to keep in mind that this public call pertains to a different country, and Croatia must ensure that everything it does complies with the laws in place there and with the frameworks within which the European Union operates.
This means that the projects must be acceptable to both local authorities and the EU administration in order to be implemented.
Clear Objective: Supporting Croats in BiH
Nonetheless, the objective of these measures is very clear.
The intention is to assist Croats who wish to return to Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as those already living there but facing difficult circumstances, to be able to remain.
Creating a Positive Climate for Return
Of course, the first step is to create an atmosphere among Croats from Bosnia and Herzegovina, now living in other countries, that returning might be a good decision.
It is no coincidence that one of the measures includes this aspect – highlighting successful returnee stories as encouragement and motivation for return.
This is particularly relevant because, recently, although not in large numbers, there has been a noticeable return of entire Croatian families to Herzegovina, Central Bosnia, or Bosnian Posavina, mainly from Germany.
They are returning with children, starting their own businesses or finding employment with others.
A Step in the Right Direction
Therefore, this government measure should be supported.
It is a good start and a sign that Croatia, as the homeland, is not only concerned with the political equality of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the other two constituent peoples, but has also begun working on projects for the return of Croats to that country.
In the future, these measures can be expanded both financially and in scope, but without doubt, this is a step in the right direction.
