Next week, Skopje will host a summit of Western Balkan leaders dedicated to the European Union (EU) Growth Plan. According to diplomatic sources, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and Director-General for Enlargement Jan Koppman will join leaders from the six Western Balkan nations to discuss the progress of the ambitious EU package aimed at fostering economic development in the region.
This meeting follows a previously scheduled session in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was canceled due to organizational issues. The last such summit took place in Brussels.
The Skopje summit will serve as an opportunity to assess the implementation of the EU Growth Plan, one of the most comprehensive initiatives designed to support the economic advancement of the Western Balkans. However, earlier projections that initial disbursements from the package would be completed by the end of 2024 have not been realized, and it remains unclear when the first payments will be made.
According to diplomatic sources in Brussels, the primary cause of delays lies with the recipient countries rather than the EU. Beneficiary nations must complete certain domestic procedures before receiving their first payments. The European Commission has stated that it is finalizing the necessary procedural steps to facilitate initial disbursements as soon as possible in 2025, with regular payments expected in the second and third quarters of the year, contingent upon meeting the required criteria.
For Kosovo and other regional countries, securing these funds requires reaching loan agreements with the EU, as part of the financial support consists of favorable loans alongside non-repayable grants. These agreements, classified as international treaties, must be ratified by Kosovo’s Assembly with a two-thirds majority. However, with Kosovo’s new Assembly yet to be constituted following elections and the government formation process still pending, further delays in disbursements are anticipated.
The EU has allocated an advance payment of 7% of the designated funds for each country that has adopted the required reform and growth agendas. All Western Balkan nations, except Bosnia and Herzegovina, have met this prerequisite. The total package amounts to €6 billion for the period 2024-2027, including €2 billion in non-repayable EU grants, while the remainder consists of concessional loans.
Kosovo is expected to receive approximately €880 million from this plan, including over €250 million in grants and the remainder in favorable loans. The initial advance payment for Kosovo is estimated at around €61 million. On a per capita basis, Kosovo stands to benefit the most among all Western Balkan nations from this package.
Other countries’ allocations include:
- Albania: €922 million
- North Macedonia: €750 million
- Serbia: €1.58 billion
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: €1.085 billion
- Montenegro: €383 million
As discussions continue, the region awaits the resolution of procedural hurdles to unlock the much-needed financial support aimed at boosting economic stability and development.
