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Western Balkan countries risk permanently losing more than €700 million ($824 million) in European Union Growth Plan funds due to delays in implementing pro-European reforms, an EU official warned Monday.
Marta Kos, EU enlargement commissioner, said the six countries in the region—
Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo—are falling behind on key commitments.
“Last week, I wrote to the authorities to step up reforms or their citizens will lose out,” Kos told the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee.
“Currently, more than 700 million euros are at risk of being permanently lost across the region,” she added.
The EU Growth Plan allocates €6 billion for 2024–2027 to support economic development and accelerate convergence with the bloc.
Access to the funds is conditional on reforms, including strengthening judicial independence and combating corruption, with a deadline set for the end of June.
“This is not about creating additional criteria,” Kos said. “But if countries backslide on fundamentals such as democracy and the rule of law, safeguards must bite.”
Kos said the EU is “increasingly worried about what is happening in Serbia,” adding that Brussels is assessing whether Belgrade still meets the conditions required to access financial support.
In February, she warned that EU assistance could be reconsidered after Serbia adopted judicial changes criticized for undermining judicial independence without public consultation, putting up to €1.6 billion at risk.
The EU has also raised concerns about rule of law issues, media restrictions, and local elections last month, reportedly marred by violence and intimidation.
Five countries have received initial funding so far, while Bosnia and Herzegovina has lagged behind due to delays in adopting its reform agenda.
Kos said Montenegro is making progress on its EU path, while Albania has opened all six negotiation clusters within a year.
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