EU Council adopts a plan worth 6 billion euros for Western Balkans to speed up enlargement process
Associated PressBRUSSELS — EU countries approved a plan worth 6 billion euros to support Western Balkan states on Tuesday aimed at accelerating reforms and economic growth in the region, as they seek future membership in the bloc. The Council of the European Union said the plan, which covers the period from 2024 to 2027, is expected to provide up to 2 billion euros in grants and 4 billion euros in loans. The region’s six countries — Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia — are at different stages in their applications for membership, but residents have been frustrated with the slow pace of the process. The Council said that a precondition for Serbia and Kosovo to receive aid is that “they engage constructively with measurable progress and tangible results in the normalization of their relations.” Serbia has not recognized Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence, and recent tensions between them have sparked concern among Western powers.
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