17 December 2020: Over 1.5 million people, living along the Corridor Vc (CVc), connecting the north and the south of Bosnia and Herzegovina, witness their accessibility being improved thanks to the contribution of the Western Balkans Investment Framework into this transport pillar. The Corridor Vc in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the first major motorway and the largest ever infrastructure project in the country´s history. More than 68 km of motorway, including 1 cross-border bridge, have been supported by EU grants, blended with loans by European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and European Investment Bank (EIB). These investments are contributing towards faster economic and social development of the country.

17 December 2020: The EU funded technical assistance for the design of several new buildings to further develop the Idrizovo Prison complex in North Macedonia was completed in October 2020. This followed on from the completion of the institutional support provided to the country’s largest penitentiary institution which finished in September 2015.

14 December 2020: Serbia’s northern city of Subotica is now equipped with a modern water and wastewater network and facilities thanks to a decade-long engineering endeavour supported through a grant by the European Union and the WBIF Bilateral Donors under the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) and a loan by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

10 December 2020: The Western Balkans Investment Framework held its 23rd WBIF Steering Committee Meeting on 10 and 11 December. Due to the COVID-19 situation, this meeting was held virtually. Over 200 participants from the Western Balkans beneficiaries, the European Commission, Financial Institutions (AfD, CEB, EBRD, EIB, EIF, KfW, WBG), Bilateral Donors from Member States and Norway, the Energy Community Secretariat (ECS), the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community (TCS) and the WB Enterprise Development and Innovation Facility (WB EDIF) attended the two day sessions.

26 November 2020: 'Peace Highway', one of the flagship projects under the EU's Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, comes closer to construction thanks to a loan of up to €85 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) signed on Wednesday, 25 November.

12 November 2020: The Western Balkans Investment Framework held its 30th Project Financiers’ Group Meeting (PFG) virtually, on 10 and 11 November 2020. Over 100 participants from the European Commission, Financial Institutions (EIB, EBRD, CEB, KfW, WBG, AFD, EIF), Bilateral Donors, Western Balkans beneficiaries and the Energy Community Secretariat participated. The meeting was co-chaired by DG NEAR’s Head of Unit Mr. Colin Wolfe and by CEB, Country manager for Western Balkans Mr. Vitomir Miles Raguz.

20 September 2020: The virtual kick-off meeting for two WBIF projects in Albania was held on 16 September. The objective of the projects is to develop the environmental infrastructure in the waste sector in eight municipalities around Elbasan and six in the Fier area.

03 August 2020: The EU-funded technical assistance project to identify the needs, options, and financing structure of the construction of next generation broadband networks in Albania, was completed in July 2020. As a result, the Feasibility Study and Cost-Benefit Analysis have been developed for the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy in the scope of the Government’s National Broadband plan 2013-2020.

02 August 2020: A €11.8m grant agreement to finance the construction of the 6.9 km-long Tarčin-Ivan section of the pan-European Corridor Vc was signed on Thursday 30 July, between the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Ministry of Finance and Treasury of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

30 July 2020: The following WBIF factsheets are now updated and available in all local languages - WBIF at a Glance, Bilateral Donor Factsheet, Sector Factsheets. They can be found and downloaded from the WBIF Library/Factsheets. In addition, the WBIF Annual Report 2019 has been uploaded to the Library. Printed versions are in production and will be disseminated soon.

29 July 2020: On 29 July the works commenced on the Connectivity Agenda 2015 project ’North Macedonia – Albania Power Interconnection: Grid Section in North Macedonia (Bitola – Ohrid – Border with Albania)’. By providing the first interconnection between the two countries, this project completes the 400 kV electricity ring between Albania, North Macedonia and Greece, which will enhance cross-border exchanges in electricity and contribute to the development of the regional market.

15 June 2020: The WBIF Annual Report 2019 is now available online. The report provides a comprehensive overview of 2019 developments - governance and policy, landmark projects, sector and beneficiary portfolios - and comes with a detailed project and grant directory, showcasing all past and current WBIF operations.

06 April 2020: Appreciation for all involved in healthcare, governments, public services and local communities who are on the front line fighting to contain the virus in the Western Balkans.