On 10 June, the EU’s Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner, Olivér Várhelyi, participated in the Tirana Summit with the Western Balkans leaders. They discussed the implementation of the Economic and Investment Plan, put forward for the region by the Commission last autumn and looked ahead towards the Berlin Process Summit with the Western Balkans on 5 July.

The EU’s Economic and Investment Plan foresees up to €28 billion of investments, in grants, loans and guarantees, to help the Western Balkans with the post-COVID-19 recovery and with the convergence with the EU. The Plan also fosters regional integration and cooperation. The Common Regional Market that the Western Balkans leaders agreed to take forward at the Berlin Process Summit in Sofia last year will unleash the region’s growth potential and will, with practical decisions, make life easier for citizens and businesses.