North Macedonia is the champion of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, said Kosovo

Brussels – North Macedonia is our champion when it comes to the European Commission’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, which is really working well and it was the first to receive pre-financing funds, emphasized the European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos in an interview with the European News Agency (ENA), of which MIA is a part.

She highlighted that out of the total amount of six billion euros from the Growth Plan, 715 million euros are allocated for the country, which includes pre-financing of 52 million, of which part is paid directly into the state budget, while the remaining part goes through the Instrument for Reforms and Growth in the Western Balkans. 

– In that regard, you should not worry about North Macedonia. It is really on the right track, Kos emphasized. 

The European Commissioner reminded that one third of the total amount of funds from the Growth Plan are grants, while two thirds are loans, and these funds are intended for implementing the reforms defined by the reform agendas of each country. The largest part of the funds is intended for reforms in the rule of law, then for business development or the business environment, for digitalization, for transport, for energy, and for developing skills. 

According to her, the next phase becomes interesting when future payments will depend on the reports received regarding the implemented reforms. 

– If they do not deliver what was agreed upon within a certain period, then they will have some opportunity to extend the deadline to make the reforms. But, in the worst case, and we hope that this will not happen, we could not make the payment and these funds could be used by other countries, Kos added. 

She also reminded that the Summit for the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans was supposed to be held last month in Skopje, but it was postponed due to the tragedy in Kochani, and now it will most likely be organized in June, for which Kos announced that she would visit the country. (April 16, 2025)