Brussels, 12/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission said on 12 July that it plans to grant €5.5 billion to countries in the Western Balkans, Turkey and Iceland to help them implement EU-oriented reforms. Almost half of the financial support, some €2.587 million, will go to Turkey. The money will be used for the 2011-2013 period and will be given to Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, as well as Iceland and Turkey. It is meant to be used for reforms in the justice system and public administration, fighting organised crime and corruption, helping economic recovery, boosting education and building up civil society. “The funds should act as a catalyst to drive forward reform in the enlargement countries and support the countries along their path of European integration. The EU assistance will also directly impact upon the daily lives of citizens by contributing to improved rule of law, governance, social conditions and economic prospects, particularly important as a number of countries in the region recover from the economic crisis”, Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Füle said. (LoC)