The 21st session of the Council for Slavonia, Baranja and Srem, presided over by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, was held in Donji Miholec yesterday. It was the sixth session of the Council held in the Osijek-Baranja County, following previous meetings in Osijek, Beli Manastir, Našice, Đakovo and Slatina.
Prime Minister, members of the government, representatives of five Croatian counties, mayors and other representatives of the state, regional and local levels attended the session. 13 contracts and decisions with a total value of nearly €54 million were awarded. The projects include investments in water management, nature protection and climate projects, as well as urban development through the ITU mechanism.
The future of regional development, transport infrastructure and investment in tourism in the region of Slavonia, Baranja and Srem were discussed at the session. Osijek-Baranja County President Nataša Tramišak highlighted that the holding of the session in Donji Miholec further confirms the importance of the balanced development of all parts of the county. She stated that the local secondary school in Donji Miholec is one of the important investments of the Republic of Croatia in this city, and that it plays an important role for children and young people in the area of whole Miholec, offering both vocational and gymnasium programs.
A total of €5.54 billion has been contracted in the five Croatian counties by September 2026, of which €3.57 billion has been paid out. Osijek-Baranja County is allocated €2.09 billion, Vukovar-Srijem County €1.14 billion, Brod-Posavina County €761.04 million, Virovitica-Podravina County €661.19 million, and Požega-Slavonia County €499.83 million.
The county president highlighted the completion of the Corridor Vc, and announced a number of new projects that are expected to characterise the next investment period. The construction of the new Clinical Hospital Centre Osijek, with a projected value of over €850 million, is underway, with the selection process for the contractor having started, and the start of implementation planned for the end of 2027. Tramišak stated that the new KBC Osijek is one of the largest strategic projects not only in their county but in all of Slavonia.
Among the projects that Osijek-Baranja County wishes to continue or accelerate are the Autism Centre in Osijek, the Orlovnjak Waste Management Centre, the further development of the Economic Centre, the Art Museum, the revitalisation of the Eugène de Savoie Castle, the western bypass of Našice, and the Podravina road from Našice to Čepin. It is also announced that the revitalisation of the brownfield area in Osijek will continue, where a new urban zone with sports, educational, residential, social and economic facilities is expected to be created.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković stressed that the main goal of the Council is the continuation of dialogue between the state and the regional and local levels, and the creation of a better economic and living environment in eastern Croatia. He noted that the number of unemployed in Slavonia, Baranja and Srem has fallen from over 60,000 in 2016 to approximately 18,500, while the number of employed has risen by around 37,000. For the Osijek-Baranja County, he noted a fall in the number of unemployed from over 25,700 in 2016 to less than 8,000, an increase in the average net wage from €686 to almost €1,500, and an increase in the number of businesses from 3,726 to 8,368. In Donji Miholec, the number of businesses has risen from 134 to 251.
The Council for Slavonia, Baranja and Srem is envisioned as a place for the coordination of the state, counties, cities and municipalities in the preparation and implementation of strategic projects and the use of national and European funds. In the coming period, the focus should remain on the economy, transport infrastructure, agriculture, health, demographic measures, young people and the creation of better living conditions in the five Croatian counties. The government announced that the next session of the Council will be held in the Požega-Slavonia County.
