EU Announces New EUR171 Mil Support Package for Infrastructure and Businesses in the Western Balkans

Western Balkans (Photo: Nevena Zaric)

The European Commission (EC) has announced a EUR171 million support package to boost infrastructure development and private sector growth across Western Balkans, with the funds intended for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, and North Macedonia. 

“Investing in our Western Balkan partners is key to bringing them closer to the EU,” EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said.  

The new support package includes an investment contribution package from different EU funding sources: contributions from the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA III) for a project in Bosnia and Herzegovina, contributions from the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) bilateral donors for a project in Montenegro, and contributions from the Reform and Growth Facility (RGF) for projects in Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia.

Of the total package, EUR91.8 million is allocated to infrastructure projects. This funding is expected to mobilize EUR263 million in total investments across seven projects in priority sectors, including digital, clean energy, human capital, transport, and environment. The package also includes EUR76.3 million in contributions to programs supporting the private sector, Go Green Program for small and medium-sized companies, and strengthening public-private partnership capacities and governance in Bosnia and Herzegovina.