EC calls on Kosovo: Ratify the Growth Plan agreement as soon as possible

2026-01-12 17:54:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Kosovo must immediately ratify the agreement with the European Union on the Growth Plan - as soon as it forms its new Parliament - in order to start receiving millions of euros from this financial package for the Western Balkan countries, a European Commission (EC) spokesperson told Radio Free Europe on Monday.

Kosovo was among the first to adopt the reform agenda in 2024, but has not been able to enjoy the money due to the lack of a functional Assembly to ratify the formal agreement with the bloc.

"It is in Kosovo's interest that ratification occurs as soon as possible, in order to fully utilize all the opportunities offered by the Growth Plan, for the benefit of its population," the spokesperson said.

Kosovo is expected to form a new Assembly in the coming weeks, following the early parliamentary elections on December 28, which were convincingly won by the Vetëvendosje Movement, the ruling party of the incumbent Prime Minister, Albin Kurti.

Kurti's party won 57 seats and is expected to lead for a third four-year term.

To ratify the agreement in question with the EU, 80 votes are needed in the 120-seat Assembly, which means that the opposition's votes are also needed. Without ratification of the agreement, Kosovo cannot submit a request for payment.

The Growth Plan is an EU funding package for the six Western Balkan countries – Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina – with the aim of bringing these economies closer to European standards.

Of the package, 2 billion euros are non-repayable funds, while the remaining 4 billion are provided in the form of soft loans. Kosovo has received about 900 million euros - which means that per capita it is the largest beneficiary of these funds.

In addition to ratifying the agreement, Kosovo must also fulfill the steps within the specified deadlines to receive the money.

It has prepared the reform agenda based on the preliminary recommendations of the EU bodies, while reforms in the field of order and the rule of law are essential to benefit from funds from this Plan.

If any step is not completed within the specified deadline, the beneficiary is given the opportunity to complete it within the so-called "additional period", according to the bloc's spokesperson.

This is two years for steps that were due to be completed in December 2024 and one year for all steps that were due to be completed in June 2025 and beyond.