The European Commission has released new funding tranches for Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia under the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, highlighting uneven progress in reforms and financial disbursements among the three candidate countries.
Albania emerged as the top recipient, securing its first disbursement of €99.3 million, with €46.2 million paid directly into the state budget and the remainder allocated for infrastructure projects through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF).
Montenegro followed with a €8.1 million second disbursement — €3.8 million going to the state budget and the rest directed to WBIF-backed infrastructure projects.
North Macedonia, meanwhile, received a €16 million second disbursement, of which €7.4 million will be transferred to the national budget. The balance will support infrastructure initiatives under the WBIF, focusing on sustainable transport, clean energy, digital transformation, and human capital development, in cooperation with Western Balkan partners and international financial institutions.
Since the start of the Western Balkans Growth Plan, total EU disbursements have reached €99.3 million for Albania, €18.3 million for Montenegro, and €25 million for North Macedonia — figures that underline Albania’s stronger absorption capacity and reform progress compared to its neighbors.
The EU Growth Plan aims to accelerate the integration of Western Balkan countries by offering financial incentives and early access to EU economic benefits ahead of full membership. The initiative ties funding to progress on governance, market reforms, and alignment with EU standards, effectively rewarding reform-driven economies.