Rama talks about EU funds in Bratislava: We need to get something more!

11:05 31/05/2023

This Wednesday in Bratislava, the Security Forum convened. Within this forum, the “Open Roads Balkans Back in Business” conference was held, which focuses on the economy of the countries of the Western Balkans region.

The Prime Minister of the country, Edi Rama, was also present at the panel. He spoke with figures regarding the financial packages that the EU has given to the 6 countries of the Western Balkans from 2020.

However, the head of the government emphasizes that these funds, compared to those received by the member states of the European Union, are much less.

“There is an extraordinary gap between the member states of the European Union and our Western Balkan states. In the period 2020-2021, two very large packages were given for recovery by the EU, a total of 47.5 billion and 672 billion for the member states. While for us, 1 billion euros was given for the 6 of us, of which 500 million in grants and 500 million in loans. For our common energy problem, from which Albania received 85 million, they were a redistribution of the IPA fund. So practically what we should have received for certain projects was reoriented to this direct contribution, I’m not saying it’s not something noble, but it was just a redistribution. The granting of grants by the EU to the member states in South-Eastern Europe will be 11 times greater compared to the Western Balkans. The IPA funds are 90% technical assistance and 10% investments, while the cohesion funds are 92% investments and 0.3% technical assistance and for the moment the last point with figures is that the funds provided by the EU budget for the countries Eastern Europe is 138 euros per citizen and 4570 euros for European citizens of the member countries. he declared.

Rama described Albania’s path to EU membership as long. He further added that in the meantime, the EU must make fundamental changes to the financing of the Western Balkans.

That’s the situation we find ourselves in and that’s why we think this is a life and death issue for us. Obviously the negotiation process takes time and I am convinced that it should not be rushed, but we need to get something more, something needs to change fundamentally if they don’t want to see BP go back again.”concluded the prime minister./broread

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