Growth Plan Campaign

The Growth Plan for the Western Balkans

The Growth Plan for the Western Balkans was introduced by the European Commission on 8 November 2023.

This Plan is designed to:

• Bring Western Balkan entities closer to the EU’s single market.
• Strengthen economic cooperation within the region.
• Support EU-related reforms in the Western Balkans.
• Increase funding to help the region catch up socially and economically with the EU.

The Growth Plan offers some of the benefits of EU membership earlier, before full integration. This approach should help speed up the process of joining the EU and boost the economies of the Western Balkans.

Closing the economic gap is a key goal. Right now, the economies of the Western Balkans are about 35% the size of the EU average. With the Growth Plan, the region could double its economic size over the next ten years.

To support this effort, the EU has created the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans. This facility provides €6 billion in funding between 2024 and 2027 to help countries implement important reforms and encourage economic growth.

Videos on the Growth Plan

Watch our Growth Plan videos to learn more about its goals and benefits:

How the Growth Plan works

The Growth Plan is built around four key areas:

1. Bringing Western Balkan countries closer to the EU’s single market
2. Improving regional cooperation through the Common Regional Market (CRM)
3. Supporting fundamental reforms
4. Providing financial support through the Reform and Growth Facility

The allocation of funds between beneficiaries is detailed in the Annex of the Reform and Growth Facility regulation. This facility works alongside the existing IPA III funding programme to maximise its impact.