TIRANA, September 26 /ATA/ The Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement of the European Union Olivér Várhelyi stated today that there is being prepared a new plan to accelerate the economic growth in the Western Balkans.
Várhelyi participated in the Euro-Balkan Ministerial of Ministers of Economy from the EU and the region, which takes place within the Berlin Process, with the participation of over 20 high-level delegations.
“In the current geopolitical context, EU enlargement with the Western Balkans is more than ever an investment for peace, security and prosperity in our continent. It is an investment for our common future, for which this commission has worked hard since the beginning of its mandate, presenting a new methodology for the expansion, approval and implementation of a plan for investments in the economy of the region”, said the commissioner.
He emphasized that the economic investment plan, worth 30 billion Euros, is the backbone of the connectivity and integration plan.
The commissioner said that implementation of the plan is progressing rapidly.
“So far, we have approved 3 billion Euros in grants that will mobilize 15.9 billion Euros for investments. This includes 54 important projects in transport, energy, environment, digitization, human capital and competition in the private sector”, emphasized Várhelyi.
The commissioner also said that there will be other projects in December, as well as a new plan for economic growth in the Western Balkan.
According to him, this plan will speed up the pace of social economic convergence of the region with the EU and in this way will speed up preparations for EU membership.
“In particular, we want to speed up the economic integration with the region and the EU common market”, he said./p.s./
