The European Union has officially begun disbursing €61.8 million in pre-financing to Kosovo under its Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, marking a significant step forward in supporting the country’s reform agenda and economic development.
According to the Office of Prime Minister Albin Kurti, the funds are being transferred through the EU’s Reform and Growth Instrument after Kosovo fulfilled key procedural requirements, including the ratification of relevant agreements in parliament and submission of necessary documentation.
Kosovo was the last country in the region to access these funds, largely due to last year’s political deadlock and institutional delays.
The €61.8 million pre-financing represents 7 percent of the total €882.6 million package allocated to Kosovo in grants and concessional loans under the Growth Plan, which runs until the end of 2027. Of the initial disbursement, €28.74 million has already been transferred directly into Kosovo’s budget as loans, while the remaining €33.04 million—comprising €17.73 million in grants and €15.31 million in loans—will be channeled through the Western Balkans Investment Framework.
The funding is intended to support the implementation of Kosovo’s Reform Agenda, which includes 111 reform steps across key sectors such as rule of law, governance, economic development, green and digital transition, and human capital.
Disbursement of future funds will depend on the timely implementation of these reforms. The first major deadline requires the completion of 13 reform steps worth €90.8 million by June 30, 2026, followed by an additional 27 steps valued at €165.9 million due by the end of the year.
EU officials emphasized that the initiative aims to accelerate Kosovo’s path toward European integration, strengthen institutional capacity, and promote sustainable economic growth. Acting Head of the EU Office in Kosovo, Eva Palatova, reaffirmed the bloc’s continued support, highlighting the importance of reforms in advancing the country’s alignment with EU standards.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti acknowledged that time had been lost due to previous political challenges but stressed the government’s commitment to accelerating reform efforts and fully utilizing the opportunities provided by the Growth Plan.
The EU remains Kosovo’s largest financial supporter, having provided more than €3.7 billion in grants since 1999, along with an additional €421 million currently available through the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA).
