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TUAIRIM (COM(2023)0692 – C90408/2023 – 2023/0397(COD))

Ar an togra le haghaidh rialachán ó Pharlaimint na hEorpa agus ón gComhairle lena mbunaítear Saoráid Athchóirithe agus Fáis le haghaidh na mBalcán Thiar

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an Coiste um Thrádáil Idirnáisiúnta · Rapporteur: Helmut Scholz

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The Committee on International Trade gives its opinion on the proposed Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans, which supports gradual EU accession of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. The Facility would provide EUR 6 billion for 2024-2027: EUR 2 billion in non-repayable support and EUR 4 billion in concessional loans from the EU. The rapporteur welcomes the financial commitment but favours more non-repayable support and flexibility in loan conditionality. The opinion asks the lead committees to take account of 22 amendments to the Commission proposal, covering recitals and articles on objectives, conditionality and implementation.

Committee position. The Committee on International Trade asks the Committees on Foreign Affairs and on Budgets to take account of 22 amendments to the Commission proposal, covering recitals and articles on objectives, conditionality and implementation.

Key points

  1. The EU supports the gradual accession of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia to promote democratic, economic and social progress and stability.
  2. The Western Balkans have been hit by COVID-19, emigration of young people and economic difficulties from Russia's war in Ukraine; purchasing power is between one third and half of the EU average.
  3. The rapporteur supports the conclusions of the EU-Western Balkans summit of 13 December 2023, which reaffirmed commitment to future accession based on democracy, rule of law, credible reforms and fair conditionality.
  4. The Facility would increase financial assistance to support reform programmes focused on socio-economic and fundamental reforms, including the rule of law and targeted investments.
  5. The Facility's resources for 2024-2027 would be EUR 6 billion: EUR 2 billion in non-repayable support and EUR 4 billion in concessional loans from the EU.
  6. The rapporteur welcomes the financial commitment but favours increasing non-repayable support and making loan conditionality more flexible.
  7. The Commission proposal includes strong conditionality, with funds released depending on achievement of targets in pre-assessed Reform Agendas; the rapporteur says this requires great flexibility and account for recent crises.
  8. The rapporteur insists that this ambition be conditional on improving social and labour conditions, sustainable development and fighting inequality, especially between men and women.
  9. Every investment must contribute to the region's transition to a green, climate-neutral, resilient, digital and inclusive economy.
  10. The rapporteur says priority should go to objectives linked to shared values: rule of law, democracy, human rights, independent judiciary, fight against fraud, corruption, organised crime, money laundering, tax evasion, media and academic freedom, civil society, social dialogue, gender equality and minority rights.
  11. The rapporteur says the programme should not only bring Western Balkan economies closer to EU standards but also strengthen cultural, educational, academic, research and creative partnerships.
  12. The Committee on International Trade asks the Committees on Foreign Affairs and on Budgets to take account of 22 amendments to the Commission proposal, covering recitals 11, 12, 13, 15, 22, 27 and 29 and Articles 3, 4, 5, 8, 11 and 14.

Who is affected

  • Western Balkan countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, which seek EU accession.
  • People in the Western Balkans, whose purchasing power is between one third and half of the EU average.
  • The Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Budgets, as lead committees, asked to consider the amendments.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 6 billion: total Facility resources for 2024-2027.
  • EUR 2 billion: non-repayable support.
  • EUR 4 billion: concessional loans from the EU.
  • 13 December 2023: date of the EU-Western Balkans summit whose conclusions the rapporteur supports.