Thewesternbalkans
The European Commission (EC) announced on 1 of July a new investment package within the EU Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, which is expected to raise 1.2 billion euros.
This package will support eight key new investments in water supply and sanitation, waste water treatment and rail transport, as well as innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises.
Investments will be made in close cooperation with partners from the Western Balkans and international financial institutions.
The investment package includes €300 million in EU grants from the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA III), additional bilateral contributions from EU member states and Norway, loans from international financial institutions and contributions from economies of the countries of the Western Balkans.
According to the announcement, the new investments will be developed based on three priorities of the Investment Plan:
- Sustainable transport: advancing on Corridor X rail infrastructure, with the high-speed Belgrade – Velika Plana connection enabling a faster flow of passengers and freight in the region.
- Support to the business sector: launch of a new facility for innovation and green transformation of enterprises in the region.
- Environment and climate: Reconstruction and rehabilitation of water supply and sanitation infrastructure in Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has emphasized on this occasion that the investment plan for the Western Balkans is about 30 billion euros.
“This strengthens regional ties with quality infrastructure and brings us closer to each other, which is our goal. These investments, together with the necessary reforms and access to our Common Market, will prepare the economies of our partners to join the bloc,” she said.
The European Commission approved the Investment Plan for the Western Balkans in 2020, which covers the period 2021-2027. This package aims to boost long-term recovery, accelerate green and digital transformation and encourage regional cooperation and convergence with the EU.
According to the European Commission the plan mobilizes up to €30 billion in investment, including €9 billion in EU grants through IPA III, over a seven-year period. Of this amount, 5 billion euros have been dedicated through the Economic Investment Plan for the region.
Comments: The European Commission is very strong in its promises to help candidate countries. Then a number of conditions are set, and in the end the, money is spent mainly on “technical assistance”, understand consulting services. In recent years, the EC has allowed itself to use the EU recovery funds for political purposes and to put pressure even on some member states. It could not be more different for the candidate countries.
