Macedonia is an absolute leader in implementing reforms as part of the European Union’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, and the results of these reform processes are already translating into concrete financial support for the country.
A new tranche of EUR 75 million is expected to arrive in the Macedonian state budget in November, bringing the total funds disbursed based on implemented reforms to over EUR 225 million, Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski said Thursday evening.
“If you compare the situation with other countries in the region, the benefits are clear. Yesterday, we met with EU Ambassador Rokas, and EUR 75 million are set to be deposited into the Macedonian state budget as early as November. Over 150 million euros have already been credited to the budget—funds resulting from the reforms we are implementing as part of the Growth Plan. Furthermore, we are utilizing significant grant components; for instance, in my sector, we launched the Kichevo-Bukojchani project a few days ago, which includes a 20-million-euro grant. We also began the Skopje-Blace project a month ago, backed by a 40-million-euro grant, and for the third phase of the railway connection with Bulgaria, we have secured a grant of EUR 149 million,” noted Nikoloski.
The Deputy PM also addressed the possibility of further increasing financial support for countries in the region that are actively implementing reforms. He anticipates an increasingly clear distinction between states that are making progress in their reform processes and those where such progress is lacking.
“What I am hoping for is that two groups of countries have already emerged in the region. One group consists of those implementing reforms, namely Macedonia, Montenegro, and Albania, while the second group comprises those that are not implementing reforms: Serbia, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The idea is for the funds originally earmarked for these three countries to be reallocated to Macedonia, Montenegro, and Albania, which would allow us to exceed the 750 million euros currently allocated,” said Deputy PM Nikoloski.