2nd INFIRE National Roundtable | Croatia

Bridging the gap between financial models and real implementation

On 22 April, the INFIRE project organised its 2nd national roundtable in Croatia, held within the GBC Connect Forum in Šibenik as part of the official session on financing energy efficiency.

Across Europe, the shift is clear: financing is moving away from predominantly grant-based schemes towards financial instruments and blended finance models, combining loans, public support and private capital.

👉 However, the key challenge is no longer the availability of these models, but their applicability in real conditions.

The discussion focused on a central issue for public authorities: how to translate policy objectives and financial frameworks into bankable and implementable projects.

Key questions included:

🔹 how to build a realistic and investable project pipeline

🔹 how to balance risks between public sector, financial institutions and end-users

🔹 how to ensure accessibility for different target groups, including vulnerable households and SMEs

🔹 how to support local actors in project preparation and delivery

🔹 how to complement financial instruments with effective support structures, such as one-stop-shops

The roundtable highlighted that closing this gap requires more than financial tools alone – it requires capacity, coordination and practical support mechanisms.

👉 This is where INFIRE acts: connecting policy, finance and implementation, and supporting public authorities in developing replicable, bankable and investable climate solutions.