30/06/2023 (Agence Europe) – On Friday, 30 June, the European Commission announced that Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia—as candidate countries for EU membership—would now be able to access calls for funding under the Digital Europe Programme (see EUROPE 13149/12). Specifically, this will enable businesses, public administrations, and other eligible organisations in these four Western Balkan countries to be able to qualify for part of the €7.5 billion budget for the 2021–2027 period under the Digital Europe Programme. Extending access to the four States is also expected to enable them—once the various ratification processes have been completed—to participate in projects deploying digital technologies in the EU, such as those regarding artificial intelligence (see EUROPE 13206/11) and advanced digital skills. (TM)