SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF CROATS IN BIH THROUGH EU FUNDS

Sa？etak The European Union emphasizes the importance of strengthening the growth of the European economy while at the same time working to achieve a high level of employment, low carbon emissions, and social cohesion. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) should play a key role in achieving the goals of the “Europe 2020 Strategy for Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth”. In this context, there are economic growth programs such as the cross-border cooperation and direct programs available to Bosnia and Herzegovina to reach the status of a pre-candidate for the European Union. The COSME program is intended for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as defined in the Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC1. Special attention should be paid to micro-enterprises, then to trade businesses, self-employed persons, freelancers, and social enterprises. Funding from the EU programs encourages projects that ensure long-term sustainable economic growth. The counties with the Croat majority in BiH have already participated in projects funded from the pre-accession assistance in cross-border cooperation programs. The experiences gained by participating in these projects are cited as examples of good practice and are an incentive for a more intensive approach to current economic development programs. The aim of this paper is to present EU programs that can provide financial support to economic entities in counties with a majority Croatian population as one of the ways of sustainable development in the mentioned areas