The European Commission (EC) has called on Kosovo to ratify its agreement with the EU on the Growth Plan as soon as the new Parliament is formed. This step is crucial for the country to begin accessing millions of euros in financial support from the Western Balkans package.
Kosovo was among the first to approve its reform agenda in 2024, but has not been able to benefit from the funds due to the lack of a functioning Parliament to ratify the formal agreement with the EU.
“It is in Kosovo’s interest that ratification happens as soon as possible, so that all opportunities offered by the Growth Plan can be fully utilized for the benefit of its population,” a spokesperson for the European Commission told Radio Free Europe.
Kosovo is expected to convene its new Parliament in the coming weeks, following the snap parliamentary elections on December 28, won decisively by Vetëvendosje (LVV), led by acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti. LVV secured 57 seats and is poised to lead the country into a third consecutive four-year term.
For ratification, 80 votes are needed in the 120-seat Parliament, meaning that opposition support will be required. Without ratification, Kosovo cannot submit a request for fund disbursement.
The Growth Plan is an EU funding package for six Western Balkan countries – Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina – aimed at aligning their economies with European standards. Out of the total package, €2 billion are grants, and €4 billion are loans on favorable terms. Kosovo’s allocation is approximately €900 million, making it the largest per capita beneficiary.
In addition to ratification, Kosovo must meet required reform steps within set deadlines to access the funds. The reform agenda was prepared based on prior EU recommendations, with rule-of-law and governance reforms being critical for fund eligibility.
If deadlines are missed, beneficiaries have the opportunity to complete the requirements during a “grace period”, as outlined by the EU. This includes two years for steps due in December 2024 and one year for steps due in June 2025 and later.
“If a step is not fulfilled by the end of the grace period, the beneficiary loses the funds allocated for that step,” the EC spokesperson warned.
