TIRANA, Sept 20 /ATA/ – Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, also Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, has voiced concern over the slow release of the European Union funds earmarked for infrastructure projects in the Western Balkan countries.
Speaking to reporters on Friday following an informal meeting of the transport ministers in Budapest, an event hosted by the Hungarian government as holder of the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Balluku said that the meeting was very constructive as important issues were up for discussion, including competition through interconnection and railway transport in particular.
However – Balluku went on saying – the gathering also addressed various issues concerning the EU and the candidate countries.
“At this high-level meeting, I shared our concerns over the EU funds and the time. Time is a critical component for development of the Western Balkan countries,” Balluku said.
She underlined that while Albania values the financial support from the EU, the long delays and bureaucracy often slow down important projects.
“We definitely appreciate all the funding from the EU for railway construction in our region, especially as part of Corridors VIII and X. However, the lengthy processes and red tape make it hard to get projects started, which is a matter of concern for us and our neighbouring countries,” she stated.
Balluku said that Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Matteo Salvini supported the idea that the EU member states should specifically focus on development of the Wester Balkan, as a central area that links several EU states, including the Corridor VIII, which connects two EU members, Italy and Bulgaria, but it also includes Albania and North Macedonia, two candidate countries.
The meeting focused on essential investments in rail infrastructure and the need for better cooperation among countries in Corridor 8.
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