The Growth Plan for the Western Balkans represents a clear signal of the European Union’s (EU) commitment to the economic and democratic transformation of the Western Balkans, said Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milojko Spajic at the Summit of Western Balkans Leaders and the EU in Kotor.
The EU Council has approved a plan worth six billion euros to support the countries of the Western Balkans in accelerating reforms and economic growth, with two billion in grants and four billion in favorable loans guaranteed by the EU.
At the summit, hosted by Spajic, in addition to regional leaders, European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi and Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia James O’Brien are also participating.
Messages to regional leaders from the EU and the United States (U.S.)
O’Brien said that the priority of the Western Balkans Growth Plan is to create a unified money market, reduce costs, facilitate market access, and create more jobs:
“The beauty of the plan is that the message to each participant is clear – do your job and don’t expect others to do something first so that you can do yours.”
Varhelyi said that the Growth Plan is no longer just a draft but a roadmap, which is beneficial for the region before joining the EU:
“Because of the Growth Plan and the intensity of assistance from the Economic and Investment Plan, reform agendas, and additional financial support until 2027, the Balkans will be ready, or could be ready, or could make itself ready to join the EU.”
What do the regional leaders say?
Chair of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Borjana Kristo said that the country has agreed on 110 reforms out of 113 initially proposed by the EU.
“The European path is the main foreign policy goal for which there is consensus in BiH,” Kristo said.
Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti confirmed the commitment to reforms needed to implement the Plan:
“If there is one message I want to convey to the EU, it is – check the progress of everyone in the region in terms of democratic progress and EU reforms, and then base policies towards them on that.”
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that the Growth Plan will bring good results to the region:
“We appreciate and are grateful for the money, but what is more important than money are the structural reforms we must implement, and we greatly appreciate that.”, Radio Slobodna Evropa writes.
Photo: Government of Montenegro
E.Dz.
