THE OFFICE FOR FINANCING AND CONTRACTING EU PROJECTS (CES OFC), at the Croatian Employment Service, was established by the Decision of the Managing Board in July 2007 as an implementing body in IV component of the IPA programme "Human Resources Development".
After 1 July 2013, the Republic of Croatia, as a Member State, has access to the European Social Fund (ESF) as the main instrument of the European Union aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship, assisting employers in finding better jobs and establishing fairer opportunities for all EU citizens during their employment.
Within the framework of the ESF programme, CES OFC participated in the implementation of the Operational Programme "Development of Human Resources 2007-2013" and participates in the implementation of the Operational Programme "Effective Human Resources 2014-2020" as one of the Level 2 Intermediate Bodies.
On 11 October 2022, the European Commission adopted The Programme „Efficient human resources“ 2021-2027, the first such programme from the Cohesion Policy package to be financed from the European Social Fund plus with a total value of around 2.27 billion euros.
CES OFC participates in the implementation of the Programme Efficient human resources 2021-2027 as one of the Level 2 Intermediate Bodies.
The management structure responsible for the management and implementation of the Programme "Efficient Human Resources 2021-2027" consists of:
- Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy
- Ministry of Science, Education and Youth
- Ministry of Culture and Media
- Ministry of Tourism and Sport
- Ministry of Health
- Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs
- Agency for Vocational Education and Adult Education
- Croatian Employment Service
- National Foundation for Civil Society Development
The National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021 - 2026 (NRRP) is the fundamental document for the use of funds available to the Republic of Croatia under the "Next Generation EU" instrument. The "Next Generation EU" instrument is a historic package of the European Union Recovery Plan, the first of its kind, designed to help the European economy recover as soon as possible from the consequences caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Within it, the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism was introduced, from which Member States, through their own national recovery and resilience plans, will be able to use grants.
The Office for Financing and Contracting EU Projectswas appointed as the implementing body within two components, i.e. three sub-components of the NRRP by the Decision on the management and monitoring system of the implementation of activities under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021-2026.
THE ROLE OF THE OFFICE FOR FINANCING AND CONTRACTING EU PROJECTS (CES OFC), as a Level 2 Intermediate Body, is contracting and monitoring the implementation of contracts for projects from the priority axis Inclusive labour market and employment promotion. In addition, Education and Lifelong Learning, Social Inclusion, Health, Youth Employment, Social Innovations and Material Deprivation of the "Efficient Human Resources 2021-2027" Programme.
The EU Project Financing and Contracting Office, as a Level 2 Intermediate Body in the management and control system of the use of the European Social Fund in the financial period 2021 - 2027, is a national or public body that manages risks at the level of operations, participates in the work of the Monitoring Committee. Furthermore, it cooperates with the Level 1 Intermediate Body in the preparation of documentation for the call for grant proposals. It also participates in the selection of operations, upon completion of the operation selection process, it prepares framework of contracts on the allocation of funds, approve the beneficiary’s requests for reimbursement of funds, based on them, draw up requests for the payment of State Aid to beneficiaries. Also, it implements the activities to prevent, detect and correct irregularities and apply corrective measures, etc.
The MISSION of the Office is to contribute to the development of human resources in Croatia by effectively managing European Union funds with the aim of increasing employment and strengthening social cohesion.
The STRUCTURE OF THE OFFICE is defined by the Amendments to the Ordinance on the Internal Organization of the CES from March 2022.
The office consists of:
- Service for controlling the implementation of projects in the field of the labour market and employment,
- Service for controlling the implementation of projects in the field of social inclusion,
- Service for controlling the implementation of projects in the field of health and youth employment,
- Service for controlling the implementation of projects in the field of child poverty,
- Service for contracting and procurement control and
- Service for administrative affairs and information