On Tuesday 1 June, the European Commission made further disbursements to four third countries under the EU’s €3 billion macrofinancial assistance programme to support ten enlargement and neighbourhood countries from spring 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic (see EUROPE 12472/7).
The EU support will be distributed as follows: - €300 million to Tunisia; - €50 million to Kosovo; - €30 million to Montenegro; - €80 million to North Macedonia.
For Tunisia, this is the first tranche of its €600 million macrofinancial assistance programme, which comes into effect in May 2021. “Given the urgent nature of this aid, the first instalment is not subject to compliance with any specific conditions”, the Commission said in a statement.
For Kosovo, this is the second and final tranche of its €100 million programme. Kosovo has met the conditions agreed with the EU, including adopting measures to strengthen the sustainability of public finances, fighting corruption, and boosting youth employment.
Montenegro is receiving the second and final tranche of its €60 million programme. It has fulfilled the agreed conditions attached to the assistance, namely the adoption of measures to improve public financial management, the fight against corruption, and social protection.
For North Macedonia, this is the second and final tranche of its €160 million programme. Skopje has fulfilled the conditions set, namely measures to strengthen fiscal governance, fight corruption, financial sector supervision, and youth employment.
The EU has released the first tranche of assistance to all partners except Bosnia and Herzegovina. The country will receive its first tranche of aid, a loan of €125 million, as soon as it ratifies its Memorandum of Understanding. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)