Thewesternbalkans.
The EU-Western Balkans Investment Forum, organized by Albania, will take place in Tirana on 13 and 14 October with the aim of attracting private investors from the region and the EU by connecting international investment institutions and businesses.
The EU-Western Balkans Investment Summit seeks to strengthen economic cooperation and investment opportunities between the Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia) and European Union member states. Supported by the European Commission, this summit is part of the broader EU strategy to promote regional integration and socio-economic convergence, fostering sustainable economic development across the region.
In connection with the forum, the European Union published in April 2025 a Call for Expressions of Interest for private investment projects with the aim of stimulating economic growth and to support projects in infrastructure, green and digital transformation, sustainable tourism, etc. The first day of the forum will focus on high-level policy panels, while the second day will be focused on business, with a detailed analysis of the proposed investment proposals. The topics of the forum are bioeconomy, energy, digital technologies, manufacturing and critical raw materials.
Following the conference in Albania, another investment conference is planned to be held in Tivat, Montenegro, on 14-15 October 2025. The event is organized by the Investment Agency of Montenegro in cooperation with the EU Delegation to Montenegro. The main topics of the conference will be: renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure; smart tourism and digital connectivity; sustainable agribusiness and international financing and cooperation. The conference will aim to foster partnerships in these key sectors, as well as to highlight the long-term commitment of the EC to support Montenegro’s economic diversification and attract investments beyond tourism. The event will include thematic panels and sessions with the participation of international financial institutions.
During the conference, regional governors in Montenegro are expected to sign preliminary agreements with private companies in key sectors such as renewable energy, services and digital innovation. Multi-stakeholder investment partnership initiatives are also expected to be launched, aimed at supporting innovation and sustainable food and beverage sectors.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro has issued invitations to private investors to express interest in participating, including chambers of commerce, business organizations and potential investors.
Comment: In 2020, the EU adopted the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, with the aim of economic convergence with the EU, infrastructure modernization, green and digital transformation, improving business and more.
The leading instrument for financing key infrastructure, public investments, transport, energy, digitalization and more is the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) – a multilateral platform that combines funds from the EU, financial institutions and partners for projects in the public infrastructure and private sector.
The new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, presented in 2024, provides for financial assistance of 6 billion euros for the period 2024-2027 (2 billion in grants and 4 billion in preferential (possibly low-interest) loans.
The planned volume — especially under the “Growth Plan” — is large and linked to conditions for reforms aimed at accelerated convergence with EU norms. Despite the significant investments, implementation depends very much on the ability of the countries to carry out the necessary reforms, guarantees and public transparency.
During the period of the investment forums in Tirana and Tivat, the President of the EC is planned to visit the region. Brussels’ increased attention to Montenegro and Albania is due to the repeatedly expressed position that these two countries can join the EU before the other countries in the region – within the current mandate of the European Commission.
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