EU launches first pay of 61.8m euros for Kosovo under Economic Growth Plan

According to the announcement, this step comes after ratification in the Kosovo Assembly of agreements related to the plan and handover of documentation needed by the Kosovo government.

After ratification in the Kosovo Assembly of the Agreements related to the EU Plan for Economic Growth and Handover of the Government's necessary documentation, the European Commission has begun carrying 61.8m-euro pre-finance means for Kosovo”, the report said.

The pre-finance amounts to 7% of the total amount of 882.6m euros, which Kosovo is expected to benefit by the end of 2027 in the form of grants and favourable loans.

“These tools will support implementation of the Kosovo Reforms Agency and key projects in infrastructure supported by the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF)”, it is further said.

Of 61.8m, 28.74m euros have been transferred today as loans to Kosovo's budget, while the rest of the 33.04m euros (17.73m grants and 15.31m loans) will be channeled via W. BIF.

Within the agenda of Reforms, Kosovo has pledged implementation of 111 reforming steps in various areas.

Kosovo has pledged to implement 111 reform steps, covering key areas such as rule of law, governance, economic development, green and digital transition, as well as human capital”, says the report.

The first deadline awaits 13 reform steps, which jointly total the value of 90.8m euros, expected by 30 June 2026. Moreover, the end of this year marks the deadline for another 27 steps of reforms totalling 165.9m euros.

The EU stresses that payments will depend on implementation of agreed reforms.

“Pages under the Economic Growth Plan will be made progressively with Kosovo implementation of agreed reforms. Unless specific steps of reform are completed within specific terms, the relevant 48x1> will not be reduced, it further says.

The incumbent chief of the EU Office in Kosovo, Eva Palatova, has stressed the importance of the reform and European integration plan.

The European Union stands alongside Kosovo on the road to EU integration. The Economic Growth Plan provides concrete opportunities for speeding up EU-related reforms and for the greater approach of Kosovo's economy to the common EU market”, it has declared.

Meanwhile, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has said the country is committed to implementing reforms.

Kosovo is committed to timely implementation of the Reforms Agency, as well as to fully exploit the opportunities provided by the Economic Growth Plan. It's been taken a while, but we'll do our best to speed up reforms and fulfill our pledges”, Kurti said.

The EU remains one of the largest donors in Kosovo, with billions of euros invested in the country since 1999, while through this plan the acceleration of reforms and Kosovo's approach to the European market is aimed.