The meeting of the Strategic Board of the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), chaired by Croatia, began this morning in Brussels. The opening remarks were delivered by MEP Tonino Picula.
Picula chairs the European Parliament’s Working Group on the Western Balkans within the Foreign Affairs Committee, is the Parliament’s rapporteur for Serbia, and a member of the delegation for relations with Montenegro.
At the very start of the session, he addressed the participants in his capacity as one of the European Parliament’s observers during this mandate, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities facing the countries of the region in the EU accession process. He emphasised that a strategic and coordinated engagement by the European Union is a key factor in supporting urgently needed reforms – including alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy.
Securing funds to strengthen democratic institutions
– Redirecting funds to support judicial reforms, anti-corruption measures, independent media and civil society initiatives is of particular importance, especially in light of the vacuum created by the withdrawal of American donors. Planning and launching investment projects through the WBIF is of great significance, as is consulting all relevant stakeholders in the preparation and implementation of programmes, and in the related monitoring processes – Picula stressed.
The Reform and Growth Facility entered into force in late May last year, and reform plans for Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia were approved in October. The first pre-financing is underway, and the sixth Reform Agenda is expected soon.
MEP Picula also underlined the strategic importance of communication, as it is essential to clearly highlight the positive impact of all forms of EU support to citizens in candidate countries.
– We must also be more proactive in countering malicious campaigns launched by authoritarian regimes seeking to undermine the EU’s contributions to candidate countries and to portray EU membership as an unattainable goal – concluded Picula.