site.btaEuropean Commission Delivers EUR 171 Mln Support Package for Infrastructure and Businesses in Western Balkans

The European Commission on Tuesday announced a EUR 171 million of support to boost infrastructure development and private sector growth across Western Balkans partners.

The Commission said on its website that key projects to be supported with this package include rollout of broadband infrastructure in Albania; improvement of the electricity transmission system in North Macedonia; construction and energy-efficient renovation of education facilities in North Macedonia and Montenegro; electrification of the Durres-Tirana Railway line in Albania; and a drinking water and wastewater treatment project in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

These projects will be implemented by the Western Balkan partners together with international financial institutions. EUR 2.9 million is allocated to four technical assistance projects in Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, aimed at supporting future investments in energy, water, innovation, and research sectors.

Furthermore, the funding will support programmes for small and medium-sized companies; green, circular economy; and the strengthening of public-private partnership capacities and governance in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Growth Plan for the Western Balkans aims to integrate the Western Balkan partners into the EU Single Market, advance regional economic cooperation, deepen EU-related reforms, and increase financial assistance to accelerate socio-economic convergence with the EU, the Commission says. The Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans, with a total financial envelope of EUR 6 billion for 2024-2027, is the Plan's key financial instrument, translating reform progress by partners into tangible support. To this day, 13 investment projects totalling EUR 156 million have been approved under the Reform and Growth Facility since its launch in May 2024.