EU Projekti Academy Presents a New Training Program for Journalists on EU Funds and Public Procurement

The EU Projekti Academy is organizing a two-day training program titled "EU Funds and Public Procurement for Journalists – How to Read, Investigate, and Report Accurately", which will take place in person in Zagreb, scheduled for September 22–23,2025. The program is designed to strengthen the capacity of journalists to report on EU funding and public procurement in Croatia in a precise, ethical, and research-based manner.

At a time when Croatia has access to a historically high financial allocation until 2030, yet only 5% of the available EU funds have been utilized in the current programming period, the Academy is responding to the growing need for professional and responsible media coverage of these complex processes. Additionally, more than 20% of Croatia’s GDP is realized through public procurement, a mechanism that often remains insufficiently transparent and difficult to investigate.

The training is intended for journalists, editors, producers, members of journalistic associations, fact-checking initiatives, and all those interested in developing investigative methods in the field of public finance and EU-funded projects. The program includes 16 teaching hours spread over two intensive days and combines theory and practice: from lectures and real case analysis to guided exercises, group work, and live demonstrations of key platforms such as eFondovi, EOJN RH, TED, Kohesio, OLAF, and others.

The program is led by Ariana Vela, MBA / IPMA A, a leading consultant for EU funds and one of the most prominent experts in the country, and Hrvoje Karažija, mag.iur., a legal expert in public procurement with 15 years of experience and certifications from the Ministry of Economy. The training is based on years of direct cooperation with journalists and addresses the specific challenges the media face when reporting on transparency and oversight of public spending.

Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the EU funds and public procurement system in Croatia, including the key funding programs available in the 2021–2027 period such as ERDF, ESF+, the Cohesion Fund, JTF, and the RRF. They will also develop skills for identifying irregularities in procurement procedures, using specialized platforms like EOJN RH and TED, interpreting grant contracts and public documents, understanding legal frameworks, and crafting news stories that meet high ethical and professional standards. In addition, participants will receive access to tools and guides for daily work, as well as the opportunity for individual consultations after the program.

The participation fee is €500 per person, with a 10% discount for two or more participants from the same organization. Registration is available via the provided LINK or by emailing info@uep.hr 

This training provides journalists with concrete knowledge and tools to effectively monitor and report on some of the most important financial mechanisms in the country, which manage billions of euros in public resources annually. The greatest value of this program lies in its combination of practicality, relevance, and expert-led instruction, tailored specifically to the professional needs of media professionals covering complex financial topics.