I believe that much more citizens will turn out for the referendum and say Yes than the current forecasts and polls are envisaging, Kosor said at the event organised by the Finance Ministry and the Central Finance and Contracting Agency.

Recalling that in the first six months of its membership, in the second half of 2013, Croatia would be entitled to draw funds from an EUR 800 million envelope, and a total of EUR 3 billion in the first two years of its membership, Kosor said that those funds would be spent on various development priorities.

Substantial progress has been made in the use of pre-accession assistance funds, with some 500 projects signed in the amount of EUR 300 million which we had until last year to have now more than 1,000 projects signed in the value of some EUR 500 million, she said.

With the day of its entry into the EU coming closer, Croatia should be even better prepared to use its chances, Kosor said calling on all interested sides from the state administration to authorities at the local level and social partners to be active in the use of money from the European funds.

It should be also learnt how to make long-term and strategic projects for five, 10 or 50 years, the Croatian premier said.

The purpose of the 2nd Info Days on EU Funds is to offer information about possibilities for drawing money from the current IPA pre-accession programme. Since 2007 Croatia has drawn nearly EUR 750 million from that fund. Upon the admission to the European bloc, Croatia will be able to use money from the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and Cohesion Fund.