President Milanović at opening of Municipal Library in Rijeka: Tap every euro from EU Funds, soon that money will no longer be available

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović attended the official opening of the new Municipal Library in Rijeka. “This is indeed an impressive building. You can be proud and happy”, President Milanović told the citizens of Rijeka and reminded that Rijeka had the misfortune of being the European Capital of Culture during the 2020 pandemic.

“Rijeka is a city that possesses an enormous cultural heritage that was neglected for the first 50 years after the war. However, the wheels are turning and with each new step and momentum you can see how much work there still is”, he underlined.

In his address, President Milanović called on tapping EU Funds saying that soon that money will no longer be available. “Take advantage of this money because that is our money too. Soon they will convince us that in terms of purchasing power criteria, we are as developed as Italy. This is a period in which that money will not last forever, however, this building will remain. Therefore, absorb each euro that you can”, President Milanović stated.

The reconstruction of the new library building was part of a project entitled “Revitilization of the complex Benčić – Bricks and T-building”, which was co-financed by the European Fund for Regional Development in the scope of the “Operational Program Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014-2020”. The total value of the project was 21.5 million euros, and was co-financed by the EU with 55 percent of non-refundable grants.

The project reconstruction and revitalization is one of the cultural priorities of the City of Rijeka, and with its realization, it becomes one of the largest projects of cultural infrastructure in the Republic of Croatia.

The Municipal Library of Rijeka is the central public library of the City of Rijeka and the home library of public and school libraries of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County with an active membership of 25,000, and annually offers approximately 500 program activities such as literature circles, storytelling, workshops, lectures, etc.

Also speaking at the official opening in addition to President Milanović were the director of the Municipal Library Niko Cvjetković, the mayor of Rijeka Marko Filipović, the State Secretary in the Ministry of Culture and Media Ivica Poljičak, and the State Secretary in the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds Spomenka Đurić. Alongside President Milanović was the Adviser to the President for Education Jadranka Žarković, the Special Adviser to the President for Culture, and the Commissioner to the President for Sports Željko Jovanović.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Marko Beljan