Montenegro has received €26.8 million in pre-financing from the Reform Agenda – part of the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans – of which €12.5 million in concessional loans was transferred to the national budget today. An additional €14.3 million, in the form of grants and loans, will be channelled through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) to enhance infrastructure across the country. This pre-financing payment represents 7% of the total financial support allocated for Montenegro under the EU Growth Plan.

The Ambassador of the European Union to Montenegro, Johann Sattler, stated that the Growth Plan supports Montenegro in implementing key reforms and aligning its economy and living standards with those of the EU. 

“I am pleased that the first support package under the EU Growth Plan for Montenegro has been delivered and that we are witnessing the implementation of this important programme. This will soon become a regular practice – every six months the EU will assess whether Montenegro has carried out the necessary reforms, and funds will be disbursed based on achieved results. I believe this provides strong encouragement for Montenegrin institutions to work diligently on reform measures, so that progress in education, infrastructure, digitalisation, and many other areas can be felt by every citizen, even before full EU membership,” said Sattler.

The Minister of European Affairs, Maida Gorčević, stated that the Government had fulfilled all the necessary steps to enable the first disbursement – including adopting the Growth Plan Agreement in Parliament and the conclusion of the Loan Agreement with the European Commission.
She explained that of the total pre-financing amount, €14.3 million will be directed towards infrastructure projects in the energy sector through the Western Balkans Investment Framework, while the remainder will be disbursed as direct budgetary support for the implementation of the priorities from the Reform Agenda until the end of 2027.
“The disbursement of the first tranche of financial support from the Growth Plan confirms that Montenegro is a reliable partner that will work dedicatedly on achieving all the outlined reforms. The Government has fulfilled all prerequisites for these funds to become available, which sends a strong messag to our citizens and EU institutions. This is the first tangible indication that European integration is not an abstract ideA. It brings concrete benefits for citizens and the economy. Investment in infrastructure and reform policies will be our ticket to the European Union in 2028,” stated Minister Gorčević.

By 2027, Montenegro has the opportunity to receive up to €383 million from the Reform and Growth Instrument for the Western Balkans, in return for progress in reforms related to the rule of law and fundamental rights, renewable energy sources, the digital economy, human capital, and private sector development.

Future disbursements from this instrument will be made upon the fulfilment of reform steps agreed between the European Commission and the Government of Montenegro through the Reform Agenda.

Background

The Growth Plan for the Western Balkans serves as a roadmap for bringing the region’s economies closer to the European Union. It also enables gradual access to the EU Single Market, allowing Western Balkan citizens to experience early benefits of European integration, while supporting further regional economic integration.
The Growth Plan provides an additional €6 billion in financial assistance to support socio-economic and key reforms, as well as related investments. Disbursements are conditional upon the fulfilment of reforms outlined in the Reform Agendas prepared by the beneficiaries.
The European Commission is currently assessing the implementation of the first set of reform steps.