Infrastructure of Croatian regions

Razvijenost infrastrukture preduvjet je i posljedica gospodarskog razvoja zemalja i regija. Kompleksnost infrastrukture proizlazi iz činjenice da infrastruktura treba povezivati različita područja, uključujući slabije razvijene i izolirane regije, ali i poslovne sektore, pojedince, društvo. Povezanost sve više dobiva na važnosti u vrijeme integracijskih procesa. Cilj rada je analizirati i prikazati ulogu infrastrukture u regionalnom razvoju, s posebnim osvrtom na analizu hrvatskih regija. U radu se prikazuje važnost infrastrukture kao bitne odrednice razvoja i konkurentnosti, objašnjavaju se vrste infrastrukture te se detaljnije analiziraju prometna, energetska i poduzetnička infrastruktura. Razvijena prometna infrastruktura temeljna je pretpostavka razvoja prometnog sustava koji je bitan u povećanju mobilnosti te u promicanju gospodarskog razvoja. Dok je mreža izgrađenih ili rekonstruiranih cesta u Hrvatskoj na prihvatljivoj razini, postoje regionalne i lokalne cestovne mreže koje zahtijevaju daljnju izgradnju i obnovu. Postoji također značajan prostor za poboljšanjem energetskog sustava i uklanjanjem problema u izgradnji energetske infrastrukture, kao i za daljnji razvoj poduzetničke infrastrukture. Na primjeru odabrane županije prikazani su detaljnije pojedini ograničavajući čimbenici razvoja infrastrukture. Specifičnosti regionalnih područja s aspekta različitosti opremljenosti infrastrukturom potrebno je uključiti u provedbu regionalne politike. U okviru europske integracije Hrvatskoj se nude dodatne mogućnosti financiranja razvoja infrastrukture, primarno kroz Europski fond za regionalni razvoj i Kohezijski fond, što je bitno odgovarajuće iskoristiti sukladno strukturnim potrebama regionalnog gospodarstva.Infrastructure development represents precondition and consequence of national and regional economic development. The complexity of infrastructure arises from the fact that infrastructure needs to connect different areas, including less developed and isolated regions, as well as business sectors, people and society. Connection has become more important at the time of integration processes. The aim of this thesis is to analyse and present the role of infrastructure in regional development, with special emphasis on Croatian regions. The importance of infrastructure as one of development and competitiveness determinant is shown, different types of infrastructure are explained, followed by more detailed analysis of transport, energy and business infrastructure. Developed transport infrastructure represents the main precondition in developing transport system which is important in strengthening mobility and in promoting economic development. While the network of constructed and reconstructed roads in Croatia is acceptable, there are some regional and local roads that should be more developed. There is also a need to improve energy system and to remove problems in energy infrastructure construction as well as in developing business infrastructure. More detailed analysis of the infrastructure constraints are presented on the example of the chosen Croatian county. Specificities of the regional areas considering different infrastructure needs should be included in the implementation of the regional policy. Croatia has new opportunities in financing infrastructure development as a member of the European integration, primary through investments of European fund for regional development and Cohesion fund, which is important to use according to structural needs of regional economy