Approach to EU funding in area of social politics

Pristup EU fondovima u Republici Hrvatskoj bio je dugotrajan razvojni proces praćen definiranim odgovorima na potrebe, ali i ozbiljnijim planovima koje je usvajala Europska komisija. Ovim radom prikazan je pristup svim fondovima i programima pomoći koje je Republika Hrvatska koristila prije ulaska u članstvo EU i fondovi i programi Unije dostupni danas kao članici Europske unije. Od prvih programa pomoći, preko prve generacije EU fondova, kroz projekte socijalnog uključivanja i predpristupne fondove Hrvatska je imala preko dvadeset godina vremena osnaživati svoje kapacitete za raspolaganjem EU fondovima. Poseban naglasak stavljen je na razvoj socijalne politike koja je postala vidljivija u predpristupnim fondovima, a danas se ogleda kroz Europski socijalni fond kao najvažniji europski financijski instrument za provedbu socijalne politike. Predstavljeni su primjeri projekata i razlike između ugovorenih projekata prije pristupa članstvu i danas aktualnih projekata Europskog socijalnog fonda. Naglašava se prepoznat manjak kapaciteta i vještina planiranja kod provedbenih tijela koje upravljaju Europskim socijalnim fondom u Republici Hrvatskoj. Kraća analiza prvih pet godina korištenja EU fondova raspoloživih kao zemlji članici ima za cilj ukazati na sve veća raspoloživa sredstva s jasno definiranim područjima financiranja. Naglašava se važnost strategijskog planiranja prioriteta u odnosu na područja financiranja u idućem sedmogodišnjem razdoblju.EU funding approach within Republic of Croatia has been long lasting development process followed by more defined answers to concrete needs and more serious plans accepted by the European commission. This paper presents approach to all funds and programs available to Republic of Croatia before becoming the member state as well as EU funds and programmes of the Union available to Croatia today as the member state. From the first aid programmes, the first generation of EU funds, through projects of social inclusion and pre-accession funds available, Republic of Croatia had over twenty years of time period to empower its capacities for EU funds management. Special emphasis was made on development of social politics that become visible through pre-accession funds and today is seen through the European social fund as the most important European financial instrument for implementation of social politics. Examples of project were presented and the difference between the ones contracted before the accession and the ones available today to Croatia the member state. Emphasis is made on recognised lack of capacities and planning skills of the contracting bodies responsible for management of the European social fund in the Republic of Croatia. The goal of the short analysis of first five years of using EU funds as the member state is to stress out the fact that more allocated funds are being available with clear defined areas of funding. Importance of strategic planning of priorities in areas of funding for the period of next seven years is crucial