ZAGREB, 4 April (Hina) - Croatian government decided on Thursday to classify the newspaper distribution service as one of general economic interest and to co-finance it, while the Ministry of Culture and Media will issue a public call to select the service provider. A working group established a proposal to define newspaper distribution as a service of general economic interest, and a public call will be issued with very precise, specified criteria, it was explained. "We believe this will primarily contribute to promoting professional journalism and ensure the future of printed media in Croatia, protect jobs, and thereby secure our citizens' right to information," said Minister of Culture and Media Nina Obuljen Koržinek. The selected newspaper distribution service provider will have the right to compensation up to the amount needed to cover the net costs incurred in providing the service, taking into account the revenue generated from the service and reasonable profits. Funds for the payment of compensation will be provided and paid from the state budget, with part of the compensation calculated and allocated to newspaper publishers. The maximum amount of compensation will be determined through the public procurement call. Agreement between government and Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation The government also approved the draft agreement between the Croatian Government and the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation on co-financing part of the cost of the renovated pavilion in Block 17 of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, which will be signed on 7 April. As Minister Obuljen Koržinek explained, a joint exhibition related to the suffering of citizens from what today is the territory of Croatia who were deported to the camp will be set up in Block 17. "Block 17 is shared by the states of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) and the Republic of Austria, and it was renovated and restored with a donation from the Republic of Austria amounting to two million euros. It was agreed that the successor states of the former SFRY will cover 50% of the costs, i.e., one million euros," the draft agreement says. With the concluded agreement, the successors to the former SFRY have agreed on a cost-sharing mechanism, according to which the share of the Republic of Croatia in all past, current, and future costs is 23%. Funds for the implementation of this agreement have been secured in the budget of the Ministry of Culture and Media, amounting to €230,000.