The European Parliament approved the legislative resolution for the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans, known as the Growth Plan allocating 6 billion EUR for 2024-2027. Beneficiaries must meet conditions including democratic mechanisms, media freedom, rule of law, and alignment with the EU’s foreign policy. Each must submit a Reform Agenda, reflecting assessments from the Enlargement Package and other international institutions. The Parliament proposed Rule of Law Reports and the establishment of an Audit Board to ensure proper fund utilization, alongside a “Facility scoreboard” for progress tracking. Adoption followed the European Commission’s proposal in November 2023, with the Parliament’s amendments, awaiting Council support. Confirmation of alignment with the EU’s foreign policy by beneficiaries is required. The Facility aims to strengthen democratic institutions and align policies with EU standards. Read more here.
Source: European Western Balkans