Lika-Senj County in Brussels: from natural heritage to European development priorities
A delegation of Lika-Senj County, led by Prefect Ernest Petry, stayed in Brussels where it was presented in the European Parliament as an area of preserved nature, cultural recognisability and development opportunities that fit into the increasingly important European debates on sustainability, regional competitiveness and the future use of European Union funds. The visit was organised by Croatian Member of the European Parliament Sunčana Glavak, and MEPs Karlo Ressler and Tomislav Sokol also took part in the programme alongside her. At the centre of the presentation was the programme “Lika – nature, culture and opportunities”, conceived as a kind of development postcard of the county that wants to simultaneously preserve space, strengthen the economy and position itself better in European policies that will determine the distribution of money and development priorities in the years to come. For a region that is often perceived primarily through its natural beauty, the appearance in Brussels had a broader political and economic message: Lika-Senj County wants to present itself as an area that has concrete projects, clear needs and arguments for stronger inclusion in future European investment flows.
A presentation that goes beyond protocol
Stays of regional and local officials in Brussels often remain at the level of protocol meetings, but this format shows that increasing attention is being devoted to the direct presentation of the development interests of individual Croatian regions where European policies are shaped. When a place such as Lika is discussed in the European Parliament, the emphasis is not only on the symbolism of nature and identity, but also on the question of how such regions can remain demographically sustainable, economically active and infrastructurally connected. Lika-Senj County has a specific position in this regard: it is an area of exceptional value, but also an area that has for years sought an effective response to the challenges of depopulation, transport remoteness, lack of investment and the need for more balanced development. That is precisely why the message from Brussels was directed not only at European institutions, but also at the domestic public, investors and all stakeholders involved in shaping the future of this county.
Lika as a combination of preserved nature and development ambition
In the European context, Lika-Senj County is most easily recognised for its strong natural heritage. The county’s official pages highlight its important geographical position and great territorial significance within Croatia, while protected areas such as Plitvice Lakes National Park and Northern Velebit National Park further confirm why this region is increasingly cited as an example of an area where the issue of development cannot be separated from the issue of environmental preservation. Plitvice Lakes also carry special international weight because they are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, which further increases the visibility of the entire county in the European and global tourism sphere. But such recognisability also brings an obligation: development cannot be based on rapid and uncontrolled expansion, but on a model that preserves resources and creates greater value for the local community. That is why, in the context of Lika-Senj County, there is increasing talk of sustainable tourism, energy efficiency, the green transition and projects that should enable natural heritage to be the foundation of development, not a victim of development.
This combination of nature and a modern approach is also particularly important for visitors who want to stay in the area longer, so alongside the story of protected zones and cultural content, the issue of a quality offer for guests is increasingly being opened, from active holidays to year-round stays. In that sense, it is logical that, alongside the growing interest in the region, topics such as
accommodation in Lika-Senj County are also being opened, especially during periods of larger events, tourism peaks and organised visits to natural attractions.
Brussels as the place where the rules of future financing are determined
According to Prefect Ernest Petry, during the stay in Brussels meetings and presentations were held related to the possibilities of financing from European Union funds in the coming period, with special emphasis on the future Multiannual Financial Framework. This part of the visit is particularly important because it is precisely through the multiannual European budget that the main directions of investment in regional development, infrastructure, the green transition, the resilience of the economy and strengthening competitiveness are determined. The European Commission has already presented documents for the new multiannual financial framework for the period 2028–2034, and the discussion on how the funds will be allocated is already of crucial importance for regions that want to prepare their development priorities in time. In other words, one does not go to Brussels only for symbolic support, but also for information, contacts and positioning at the moment when it is being decided which topics will have priority in the next European budget cycle.
For Lika-Senj County this is particularly important because its interests directly touch on several major European policies. European Union cohesion policy for the period 2021–2027 already emphasises economic, social and territorial cohesion and strongly links regional development with the green and digital transition. In such a framework, an area like Lika can seek support not only for classic infrastructure projects, but also for the modernisation of public services, energy efficiency, transport connectivity, the development of entrepreneurship, tourism and innovative models of spatial management. The visit to Brussels can therefore also be read as an attempt by Lika-Senj County to position itself as early as possible in the new cycle of European negotiations, instead of entering it passively and later on.
Why the green transition and sustainable tourism are at the centre of the story
Among the priorities highlighted during the presentation, the green transition, sustainable tourism and the strengthening of regional competitiveness were particularly emphasised. This is no coincidence. In its current documents, the European Commission increasingly links tourism with sustainability, the circular economy, digital adaptation and greater resilience of local communities. Within that framework, regions that possess exceptionally valuable natural capital, but at the same time do not want to be reduced only to seasonal tourist spending, have the opportunity to develop a model that combines the protection of space and higher added value. For Lika-Senj County, this means that the issue of sustainable tourism is not just a promotional phrase, but a development necessity.
Such an approach is also visible on the county’s official website through previously adopted development and planning documents, including programmes to encourage small businesses, action plans for energy efficiency, and documents related to tourism and development projects. This shows that the local administration has for some time been trying to direct itself towards a model in which investments would not be random, but tied to longer-term goals. In practice, this can mean better energy renovation of public buildings, stronger support for small entrepreneurs, higher-quality management of tourist flows, investment in content outside the main season, as well as stronger linking of tourism with local agriculture, cultural offer and natural heritage. In that context, the issue of
accommodation for visitors in Lika also gains a different dimension: not as a mere tourist service, but as part of a broader chain of local value.
Political message: the region is seeking a place in the European debate
The participation of Croatian representatives from the ranks of the HDZ in this presentation also gives the entire event a clear political dimension. Sunčana Glavak hosted the meeting in the European Parliament, while Karlo Ressler and Tomislav Sokol were also among the MEPs present. On the official pages of the European Parliament, all three Croatian representatives are listed as members of the Group of the European People’s Party, and their presence at events such as this shows that regional topics are being incorporated into broader European debates. This is politically important because the visibility of a region in Brussels is often linked not only to the quality of its projects, but also to how effectively its interests reach the representatives, committees and political groups involved in shaping European priorities.
At the same time, such visits always carry an internal political message as well. The presentation of Lika-Senj County in the European Parliament also serves as confirmation that the local government wants to present itself as an active participant in European processes, and not merely as a user of funds when calls are published. At a time when there is increasing talk that regions must be capable of defining projects themselves, proving the sustainability of investments and aligning them with European goals, political capital in Brussels becomes an additional development currency. That is why presentations like this are also important from the aspect of reputation: they help ensure that Lika-Senj County is not perceived only as a peripheral area, but as a region that articulates its own development interests.
From a natural image to economic substance
One of the greatest dangers for regions with a strong identity is that they remain trapped in their own postcard image. In the Croatian public, Lika is often a symbol of untouched nature, mountain space, national parks and a rural environment, but the Brussels presentation tried to upgrade that image with economic and development-policy content. When talking about the investment potentials of Lika-Senj County, this does not refer only to tourism, but also to its transport position, possibilities for the development of small and medium-sized entrepreneurship, agriculture, food processing, energy projects, digital accessibility and the use of European instruments to strengthen competitiveness. It is precisely this change of perspective that is important: a region that wants to be relevant in the European framework must show that it has both resources and plans.
This also opens up the question of how much local communities can retain the benefit of development in their own area. Sustainable tourism, which was discussed during the stay in Brussels, is meaningful only if it brings long-term benefit to residents, and not exclusively short-term income. This means higher-quality jobs, a longer season, better transport and communal infrastructure, greater involvement of domestic producers and a careful attitude towards space. Such logic is especially important for a county in which distances are great, settlements are scattered, and development needs differ from the coast to the interior. That is why every European debate on financing, competitiveness and the green transition for Lika is at the same time also a debate on everyday life on the ground.
Media visibility and the symbolism of appearing in the programme “From the Heart of Europe”
In addition to official meetings, Prefect Petry also took part in a television studio with Sunčana Glavak in the programme “From the Heart of Europe”, in which he presented Lika-Senj County and its perspective for the future. At first glance, this part of the programme may seem less important than meetings on funds, but in political communication it has a clear function. Brussels is not only the administrative centre of the European Union, but also a space in which public visibility is built. When a regional representative gets the opportunity to speak about his county from the political centre of the Union itself, the message is twofold: outwardly, that the region wants to be recognised; inwardly, that the local government wants to show that its topics also have a place in the European conversation.
For Lika-Senj County, such visibility is particularly important because its development needs often cannot be clearly enough summarised in the usual statistical indicators. An area of exceptional value, but with low population density and complex infrastructure challenges, cannot be reduced only to the number of overnight stays or the number of inhabitants. A story is also needed that will explain why preserving such regions is important for the broader European idea of territorial balance, resilience and sustainable development. In this, media appearances have the role of complementing formal policy.
What the Brussels appearance could mean for the county
At the moment, it is not possible to assess, solely on the basis of one presentation, what concrete financial effect it will have, but the political and development signal is clear. Lika-Senj County wants to position itself as a region that does not build its future against nature, but precisely on its preservation and the smart use of European development instruments. At a time when the European Union, through cohesion and budget policies, is seeking a balance between competitiveness, decarbonisation, territorial resilience and the security of supply chains, areas such as Lika may become more relevant than they were ten or fifteen years ago. But this will depend on whether the political presentation is translated into well-prepared projects, clear partnerships and the ability to turn European money into measurable development on the ground.
That is precisely why the stay in Brussels is not only an episode of external presentation, but also a test for what follows at home. If sustainable tourism, the green transition and regional competitiveness truly remain at the centre of development policy, Lika-Senj County could emerge from European debates with a stronger position than it has had so far. And for a region that relies on exceptional natural and cultural value, but at the same time seeks more stable economic momentum, that could be one of the more important preconditions for interest in
accommodation near event venues and natural attractions, investments, jobs and local development no longer to be viewed separately, but as parts of the same, long-term story.
Sources:- Lika-Senj County – official data on the county, geographical position and development documents (link)
- Lika-Senj County – official page of Prefect Ernest Petry and basic institutional data (link)
- Lika-Senj County – overview of programmes and plans, including documents on small business, energy efficiency and tourism (link)
- European Parliament – official page of MEP Sunčana Glavak (link)
- European Parliament – official page of MEP Karlo Ressler (link)
- European Parliament – official page of MEP Tomislav Sokol (link)
- European Commission – documents and explanations on the EU Multiannual Financial Framework for the new budget period (link)
- European Commission / Inforegio – official overview of EU cohesion policy 2021–2027 and its connection with the green and digital transition (link)
- European Commission – official framework for the transition of European tourism towards a more sustainable and resilient model (link)
- Plitvice Lakes National Park – official data on the park’s status and inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List (link)
- Northern Velebit National Park – official data on natural features and area protection (link)
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