After receiving the green light from the Member States, on Wednesday 23 October the European Commission approved the reform plans for five countries in the Western Balkans - Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia - as part of the growth plan for this region of Europe (see EUROPE 13486/21).
Only Bosnia, of which the reform programme was not complete, is missing. The validation of these reform agendas means that the countries will be able to receive the first payments under the Growth Plan, which will be made twice a year until 2027, on the basis of applications submitted by the Western Balkan partners and verified by the Commission.
“I’m impressed by the work they’ve done on their reform programmes. This shows that they are determined to ensure the success of the growth plan. This is our roadmap for bringing the economies of the Western Balkans closer to our own”, welcomed the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
The reform agendas of the Western Balkan countries focus on reforms in the priority areas of the Rule of law, governance, digital and green transition, human capital development and the business environment.
The Plan aims to accelerate the region’s socio-economic convergence with the EU and facilitate the future accession of these countries. (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)