Six countries could lose more than €700 million from the European Union’s growth plan for the Western Balkans if they do not meet the reform conditions necessary to draw on subsidies by June 30, according to the Croatian daily Jutarnji List.
The newspaper reported on Monday that Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia risk losing a total of €710.8 million, which represents nearly 12 percent of the €6 billion EU growth plan for the 2024-2027 period.
Among the nations involved, Bosnia and Herzegovina stands to lose the most significant amount, totaling €373.9 million. Serbia follows, potentially losing “at least €108.7 million, or even €135.8 million in support. Other potential losses include €97.7 million for Albania, €68.8 million for Kosovo, €49.2 million for North Macedonia, and €15.1 million for Montenegro.
The Jutarnji List emphasized that “the European Commission has warned that the payment of subsidies depends on the fulfillment of the undertaken reforms.” These mandatory conditions involve the “implementation of public administration reforms, respect for the rule of law and control of the use of EU funds.”
The report noted varying levels of success among the candidates, according to Hungarian outlet Hirado.
“Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia have so far been the most successful in drawing money,” whereas “Bosnia and Herzegovina has not even met the minimum conditions.”
Additionally, the European Commission is currently investigating whether Serbia has met the necessary benchmarks for new payments. Any funds that remain unutilized by the deadline can be redirected to countries that successfully fulfill their reform commitments.
Warning of the high stakes, Luigi Soreca, the EU Ambassador and Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, stated that the country could lose a significant portion of its allocated resources “if the authorities did not take urgent steps to implement the reform programme.”
Meanwhile, Serbian Minister of European Integration Nemanja Starović addressed local reports regarding the freezing of funds, clarifying that “the European Commission is investigating the fulfillment of the conditions for payments.”
Notably, the EU has been accused of wielding funds as a weapon against governments it wants to see out of power, as was recently seen in the case of both Hungary and Poland.
