On Thursday 14 June, the European Commission unveiled its post-2020 budget proposal for external action, and notably the new instrument for pre-accession (IPA III) – the structure for which is inspired by the priorities of the European strategy for the Western Balkan countries (see EUROPE 11955).
The multi-annual financial framework for 2021-2027, as suggested by the European Commission in early May (see EUROPE 12013), provides for a 13% increase in funds for IPA III (from €12.8...