Homepage - European Union and the Western Balkans

Successful Opportunity Week in Serbia

More than 1,800 participants attended the second edition of the EU Opportunity Week in Serbia, from 23 to 27 September 2024.

Hercegovina Bridge on Corridor Vc now open for traffic

On 4 September, the Hercegovina Bridge and the entire Počitelj-Zvirovići sub-section on Corridor Vc was opened in the presence of senior officials from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.

EBRD and Banca Intesa Beograd sign financing package of €72 million

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has signed a financing package of €72 million with Banca Intesa Beograd that aims to boost the competitiveness and trade potential of businesses in Serbia, as well as further the country’s green transition and promote financial inclusion.

Additional €1.2 billion WBIF investment package for infrastructure and entrepreneurship in the Western Balkans

The WBIF Operational Board endorsed on 2 July in London, United Kingdom a €1.2 billion investment package to support eight new flagship investments under the EU’s Economic and Investment Plan (EIP) for the Western Balkans. The package includes €300 million in EU grants from the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III).

CONNECTA 2 New website is live

The Technical Assistance to Connectivity in the Western Balkans – 2 (CONNECTA 2) has launched its website at www.connecta-info.eu. The new website features a detailed guide on how to apply for CONNECTA 2 assistance.

The first private wind park in North Macedonia has started operating

The Bogoslovec Wind Park was opened at a ceremony on 11 June, attended by the ambassador of the European Union to North Macedonia, David Geer, deputy ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Otto Graf, and representatives of the Green for Growth Fund (GGF).

gate.io

Bosnia and Herzegovina and World Bank sign grant worth €8 million

On 4th June, Bosnia and Herzegovina's Ministry of Finance and Treasury signed a €8 million grant agreement with the World Bank to finance part of a project for the improvement of the Sava waterway.

Kotor elementary school, Montenegro, transforms into an energy-efficient educational facility

The “Njegoš” elementary school in Kotor has been completely renovated to be energy-efficient thanks to the "Promotion of the energy efficiency in public buildings in Montenegro" project. Financed through the grants and loans from the European Union and German Development Bank (KfW), including country's contribution, the Ministry of Energy and Mining is implementing €60 million-worth of projects, with a focus on creating a conducive learning environment.

Western Balkans households invest over €100 million in energy-saving measures

More than 18,000 households in the Western Balkans have invested over €100 million in energy-saving measures such as insulation, heat pumps, new windows and solar panels, in the seven years since the launch of the Western Balkans Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF) programme in 2017.

Financial agreement signed for Bar-Vrbnica railway reconstruction in Montenegro

A €75.5 million package for reconstructing the railway between Bar, Podgorica, and Vrbnica in Montenegro was signed, with €35.5 million in EU grants and a €40 million EIB loan.

37th Project Financiers’ Group (PFG) meeting, 23-24 May 2024

The WBIF Project Financiers’ Group met in Belgrade to discuss investment rounds, EU Growth Plan updates, and private investment recommendations.

Commissioner Várhelyi visits Serbia and Montenegro

Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, visited Serbia and Montenegro on 14-16 May 2024, to advance discussions on EU-related reforms and the Reform Agendas under the newly adopted €6 billion Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.

Green Renovation Wave for Public Buildings in Serbia

Works started on 5th April to renovate the Institute for the Improvement of Education in Belgrade as part of a major project to improve the energy efficiency of public buildings in Serbia.

Spring updates for WBIF factsheets

The overviews by the WBIF sector, transport corridor, bilateral donor-funded projects and the private sector available programmes, are now available.

EU guarantees to unlock €750 million for small businesses in the Western Balkans

The European Investment Fund (EIF), part of the EIB Group, has signed guarantee agreements with 11 banks and financial intermediaries in the Western Balkans.

The European Union and Germany support green transport in Tirana with €81.2 million investment

The "Green Transport Tirana" project is marking an important step towards the modernisation of public transport in the Albanian capital.

European Union and the Western Balkans

The Western Balkans are an integral part of Europe. We share a continent, and we work best when we work together.

The European Union and the region work together towards

the long-term economic recovery
green & digital transition
faster regional integration and
convergence with the EU

The Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans 2021-2027, put forward by the European Commission in October 2020, is a clear sign of the EU’s commitment to these goals in the region.

Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans 2021-2027

The Economic and Investment Plan identifies 10 investment flagships and allocates a substantial financial package of up to €9 billion in EU funds, with a potential to mobilise up to €20 billion of investments through the Western Balkan Guarantee Facility.

The Plan supports investments on sustainable transport, clean energy, environment and climate, digital future, competitiveness of the business sector, human capital development.

The new EU connectivity strategy, the Global Gateway, launched in September 2021, builds on the objectives and flagship investments of the Economic & Investment Plan for Western Balkans in the areas of transport, digital and energy, which contribute to strengthened connectivity within the region and with the EU.

The Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) includes:

the Western Balkans Enterprise Development and Innovation Facility
the Western Balkans Guarantee Facility

The WBIF is the main vehicle for the implementation of such ambitious recovery plan for the region.

Up to €9bn in EU funding (IPA III 2021-2027)

Up to €20bn of investments leveraged through the Western Balkans Guarantee Facility

10 investment flagships

Green and digital transition

Latest News

View All

17-10-2024

North Macedonia receives European funds to bolster electrical grid

Funds to enable connection of 1.2 GW of new renewable sources in southeast region, advancing the country’s gre...

Learn more

03-10-2024

Updated WBIF factsheets now available

Autumn brings the updated WBIF factsheets, including the latest figures and project examples.

Learn more

17-09-2024

Opportunity Week in Serbia

The second edition of this initiative presenting the broad array of opportunities the EU offers to Serbian cit...

Learn more

Investment Priorities

The Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans invests €9 billion in six priority areas: Sustainable transport, Clean energy, Environment and climate, Digital future, Private sector and Human capital.

Sustainable Transport

Clean Energy

Environment & Climate

Digital Future

Private Sector

Human Capital

Western Balkans Investment Framework

The Western Balkans Investment Framework is an EU initiative, uniting regional beneficiaries, international financial institutions, and bilateral donors to enhance the European perspective of the Western Balkans. Due to its collaborative nature in line with the ‘Team Europe’ approach, the WBIF has been identified as the main vehicle for the implementation of the ambitious Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans.

Financing Facilities

The European Union, through the WBIF, contributes to programmes and facilities that provide financial instruments to:

improve capacity & access to affordable finance for the SMEs
support the regional measures to cut CO2 emissions
help create a sustainable market for energy efficiency

Guarantee instruments facilities help to reduce:

the cost of financing for public & private investments
the risk for investors.

European Fund For Southeast Europe

Regional Energy Efficiency Programme

The Regional Energy Efficiency Programme

Green Economy Financing Facility

EFSD+, Western Balkans Guarantee Facility

Western Balkans Enterprise Development & Innovation Facility

The Western Balkans Enterprise Development & Innovation Facility (WB EDIF), co-financed by the EU through WBIF, aims at improving access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Western Balkans. In addition, WB EDIF also aims to create:

a more favourable financing environment for SMEs, and
a sustainable equity market on the long-term (including)

This includes the promotion of policy reforms to create the adequate business climate for SME financing.

Connectivity Agenda 2015-2020

The Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans builds on solid work already in progress. In 2015, the European Union and its Western Balkan partners set out on an ambitious journey to improve connectivity - within the region and with the EU.

Five years on, we are delivering what we set out to achieve. The projects under the Connectivity Agenda are bridges of cooperation, bringing people and economies closer together. Better roads and railways are bringing faster, safer travel and a boost to trade. More efficient energy systems are delivering greater energy security and less pollution.

€3.7bn

Of total investment leveraged

€1bn

In EU Grants

€124m

In technical assistance for project preparation

Projects supported

45000

Jobs Created