The European Commission is set to reallocate funds through a tool designed to incentivize Western Balkan countries to implement reforms needed to join the EU in favor of accession frontrunners, two EU officials have told Euronews.
The Western Balkans Reform and Growth Fund was set up in 2024 to provide financial support to candidates in the region linked to strict conditions, mainly implementing reforms needed to join the bloc.
The tool covers the period 2024-2027, with the ambition of doubling the size of the Western Balkans’ economies over the next decade.
However, according to the Commission’s own figures, only around €673 million has been released under the facility, out of a total of €6 billion available. Almost all of that funding has gone to just three of the six candidate countries.
Montenegro, Albania and Macedonia are the most advanced in the accession process, thanks to their domestic reform agendas. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia, on the other hand, are generally considered to be lagging behind.
“As the regulation underlines, where reform steps have not been met and the grace period has expired, the corresponding funds can be reallocated to other beneficiaries,” a Commission spokesperson told Euronews.
“Regarding the steps that were due to be taken on 30 June 2026, the Commission will now carry out a comprehensive and objective assessment of all beneficiaries,” the spokesperson added.
In other words, the Commission is ready to reallocate unspent money to the countries that are considered to have made the most progress in reforms. Those countries are Montenegro and Albania, the so-called frontrunners, and Macedonia, which also has a good reform record.
