Skopje: Today, leaders of the Western Balkans, alongside EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, convened in Skopje to reaffirm their commitment to the EU-supported Growth Plan for the region. The high-level meeting involved leaders from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, focusing on accelerating the implementation of the Growth Plan.
According to Cyprus News Agency, this gathering comes after a year marked by significant reform and cooperation in various sectors, including finance, transport, digital connectivity, and market integration. The leaders and Commissioner Kos assessed the progress achieved thus far and agreed to continue meeting regularly to sustain the political drive essential for the Plan’s execution. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for the autumn of this year.
The Reform and Growth Facility (RGF) has been instrumental, with a commitment encompassing over 600 reforms backed by £6 billion in EU financial support. Pre-financing payments have been made to several countries, including North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, and Serbia, while Kosovo is encouraged to expedite its approval processes. Bosnia and Herzegovina made strides with the adoption of a draft Reform Agenda.
New investments in clean energy, amounting to £487.3 million, were proposed, focusing on electricity, hydropower, and solar heating projects. These investments aim to strengthen the region’s energy infrastructure and are a part of the Western Balkans Investment Framework.
Efforts to integrate the Western Balkans into the EU Single Market have seen progress, with countries like Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, and Serbia joining the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), which facilitates easier financial transactions in euros. The Green Lanes initiative and digital connectivity projects like WiFi4WB are also advancing, supporting smoother transit and digital transformation in the region.
The meeting emphasized the importance of regional integration and the potential for the Growth Plan to double the size of the Western Balkan economies within a decade. The EU’s support through the Reform and Growth Facility aims to enhance economic integration, reform acceleration, and convergence with the EU through increased financial aid.
In conclusion, today’s meeting highlighted the collective resolve of the Western Balkans to advance on their EU accession path, capitalizing on the opportunities presented by the Growth Plan. The leaders are committed to maintaining momentum and ensuring that citizens and businesses in the region benefit from these reforms.