As part of the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiatives CRII and CRII+, the European Commission announced on Monday 21 December the modification of the Croatian Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Cohesion allowing the reallocation of €361 million to support SMEs, as well as the modification of the “Western Poland” Operational Programme redirecting €71 million.
In this way, Croatian reprogramming will provide additional liquidity to SMEs experiencing difficulty due to the pandemic. This sum is in addition to the €135 million (€85 million earmarked specifically for SMEs) and €50 million for the supply of protective and medical equipment already approved by the institution.
As for the Polish reprogramming, out of the €71 million, €11.3 million are intended to support health care facilities, emergency services and the purchase of personal protective equipment and disinfection equipment. Some €18 million will go towards the provision of medical equipment (40 respirators and 55,000 screening tests). The money will finance the construction of a specialised clinic and the use of researchers in West Pomerania. The co-financing rate has been increased to 100%.
€18 billion has been redeployed since the adoption of these two initiatives (see EUROPE 12626/4). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)