The European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, has issued a stark warning to the six Western Balkan nations: implement agreed-upon reforms by mid-year or risk losing over €700 million in collective funding.
According to sources from Radio Free Europe (REL) within the European Commission, Commissioner Kos sent a formal letter to regional capitals on April 17, urging governments to accelerate their reform agendas to avoid the permanent expiration of allocated funds.
The “Grace Period” is Ending
The EU’s €6 Billion Growth Plan (2024–2027) operates on a strict “money-for-reforms” basis. Each financial installment is tied to specific legislative or structural milestones.
While the EU provided a “grace period” for delayed targets, the clock is running out:
- June 30, 2026: Deadline for reforms originally scheduled for completion by mid-2025.
- Late 2026: Deadline for reforms that were due by the end of 2024.
Failure to meet these benchmarks results in the permanent loss of those specific funds, which cannot be recovered in later cycles.
Potential Losses by Country
If current reform trajectories do not improve, the collective loss could reach €710.6 million, representing nearly 12% of the total Growth Plan budget.
| Country | Potential Loss (Millions) |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | €373.9M |
| Serbia | €108.7M – €135.9M |
| Kosovo | €68.8M |
| Albania | €67.7M |
| North Macedonia | €49.2M |
| Montenegro | €15.1M |
Note: Bosnia and Herzegovina faces the steepest risk, having already lagged behind in approving its initial reform agenda.
The Stakes for Kosovo
Despite the warning, Kosovo remains a significant beneficiary of the plan. With a total allocation of €882 million (€253M in grants and €629M in loans), Kosovo receives the highest funding per capita in the region.
Just last week, on April 16, Kosovo successfully unlocked €61.8 million in pre-financing after ratifying the necessary agreements. However, the remaining €68.8 million earmarked for this cycle remains contingent on further domestic reforms.
Economic Ambitions
The EU Growth Plan is designed to be a “game-changer” for the region, aiming to double the economies of these six nations over the next decade by integrating them into the EU Single Market before they achieve full membership.
EU officials stress that the ball is now in the court of regional leaders to prove their commitment to the European path through concrete legislative action rather than just rhetoric.
