The European Parliament adopted the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans worth six billion euros, which is the most ambitious financial package so far Of the European Union for the region.
517 European deputies voted for that package, 56 of them were against, and 30 abstained.
By the way, this vote was held only one day before the dissolution of the European Parliament because the European institutions are entering the election period. Citizens of EU member states will elect a new convocation of parliament and heads of EU institutions between June 6 and 9.
Criteria must be met
According to the text agreed by the European Council and the European Parliament, the countries of the Western Balkan region will have to fulfill a number of criteria in order to use the financial aid package in the period from 2024 to 2027.
Among them are the basic criteria that are equally valid for all countries, and refer to the rule of law, respect for the principles of democracy, institutional reforms and taking the necessary steps to ensure that funds are not misused, and there are also criteria of a political nature.
Za Kosovo and Serbia, there is "another condition" related to progress in the process of normalization of relations.
A third of the money is a grant
With the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, the EU intends to double the economy of the countries of the region in the next ten years, and that plan was proposed by the European Commission in November 2023.
Out of a total of six billion, two billion are in the form of grants, and the remaining four billion are in the form of loans with very favorable installments.
The goal of the EU is to stimulate economic growth in the six countries of the region, and at the same time to help the reform process, that is, to promote the preparation of countries in the region for EU accession. According to the proposal, the procedure for disbursement of financial resources will be simplified, but the criteria for obtaining these funds will be tightened.
