Due to the lack of political consensus, Bosnia and Herzegovina missed an opportunity and will not receive the first tranche from the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina will not receive the first unconditional installment of pre-financing scheduled for payment after the summer, in the value of 7%, thereby missing a significant opportunity for early financing,” said the Delegation.
The EU Delegation notes that the first installment of the Growth Plan can be paid only after the European Commission and Bosnia and Herzegovina formally agree on the Reform Agenda.
“The Commission continues to work with the authorities, supporting the completion of the work as necessary and looks forward to receiving the Reform Agenda once it is politically accepted. The Commission will then evaluate it without delay, as it has done with other partners, with a view to its final adoption as soon as possible possible”, emphasized the EU.
They remind that BiH the BiH authorities to the European Commission draft a comprehensive Reform Agenda, which is a necessary basis for participation in the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. The European Commission prepared its evaluation of the draft Reform Agenda of BiH and conveyed its comments to the authorities in BiH, requesting that certain revisions be carried out. However, on July 16, BiH authorities informed the Commission that in the absence of political consensus, they are not in a position to share the finalized text.
The growth plan is supported by a new financial instrument – the Reform and Growth Instrument for the Western Balkans – worth up to 6 billion euros in grants and loans for the entire region.
