The Council of the European Union has approved the Growth Plan for the countries of the Western Balkans, which means the new financial instrument worth 6 billion euros to support EU-related reforms and economic growth in the region.
This plan will cover the period from 2024 to 2027 and is expected to provide up to €2 billion in grants and €4 billion in loans to the EU’s six Western Balkan partners in the coming years.
For Kosovo and Serbia, the prerequisite will be engagement in dialogue and the normalization of relations.
The prerequisite for these two states is to engage constructively with measurable progress and tangible results in the normalization of relations with the aim of fully implementing all relevant obligations arising from the Agreement on the Road to Normalization and its Implementation Annex, as and all past Dialogue Agreements.
Also engage in negotiations for the Comprehensive Agreement for the normalization of relations.
While the general preconditions for EU support under the instrument include that partners continue to support and respect effective democratic mechanisms, including a multi-party parliamentary system, free and fair elections, pluralistic media, an independent judiciary and governance of the law, and guarantee respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities.
