More Than EUR3.3 Billion In Aid To Western Balkans From European Commission

European Commision

The European Commission (EC) announced on April 29 that it would provide the Western Balkans with more than EUR3.3 billion in aid, which it has mobilized together with the European Investment Bank.

The purpose of the package is to cover the urgent medical and humanitarian needs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and help the social and economic recovery in the region. Besides more aid, the EC also announced, ahead of the EU-Western Balkans summit in Zagreb on May 6, the extensive long-term support that would be presented later this year in the form of an economic and investment package for the region.

We have special responsibility to help our partners in the Western Balkans in conditions of the pandemic, because they obviously have a future in the EU, stated the EC president, Ursula von der Leyen, adding that the EU would continue to support the region and reforms on the path to the EU.

The neighborhood and enlargement commissioner, Oliver Varhelyi, said that the EU acted quickly and comprehensively in supporting the region in conditions of the epidemic. Our work will continue because we are preparing an economic and investment plan to respond to the social and economic effects of the crisis, modernize economies in the region, support reforms and start closing the development gap, so the people in the region would feel concrete benefits sooner, Varhelyi stated.