The WBIF Project Financiers’ Group (PFG) met in Brussels on 9 November. The meeting, co-chaired by Holger Schröder, Head of Unit Western Balkans Regional Programmes, Economic Investment Plan at the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, and Matteo Rivellini, Head of Division at the European Investment Bank, covered both projects and policy priorities. The meeting was attended by over 170 representatives from international financial institutions, EU Member States and Norway bilateral donors, and representatives from the six Western Balkans economies.

The project-oriented session provided an overview of projects proposed under the 9th investment round, and an update on the implementation of private sector investments and the guarantee facility. The policy-oriented session focused on presenting the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, launched on 8 November, which Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had presented to the Western Balkans during her tour to the Western Balkans on 29 October – 1 November. It aims to bring some of the benefits of membership to the region in advance of accession, boost economic growth and accelerate much needed socio-economic convergence.

The Growth Plan builds on the €30 billion Economic and Investment Plan (EIP) launched in 2020. This new €6-billion plan is a catalyst to accelerate the implementation of fundamental reforms, while opening the Single Market to the Western Balkans.