In accordance with the conclusions of the 20th Meeting of the WBIF Steering Committee, beneficiaries may submit applications for technical assistance by 6 September 2019 and for investment grants by 29 November 2019.

Prior to this final deadlines, potential applicants should consider the following intermediary closing dates:

Round 22 for Technical Assistance

• 16 August 2019: National IPA Coordinators or Lead IFIs pre-notify the applications in the WBIF MIS.

Round 22 is restricted to project applications in the digital infrastructure sector. The call is open for technical assistance applications for the preparation of investment projects that support the deployment of digital (broadband) infrastructure in the region. Eligible projects should focus on white zones (areas without broadband access) and rural areas or support the digital connectivity of education, healthcare, municipal and government institutions.

Round 5 for Investment Grants

• 1 November 2019: National IPA Coordinators pre-notify the applications in the WBIF MIS.

Round 5 is open for project proposals in the energy, environment, social and transport sectors. To be eligible for investment grants, national sector strategies must be in place and all project proposals should be prioritised and identified in the Single (National) Project Pipelines as compiled within the remit of National Investment Committees or equivalent national structures. 

Energy, environment and social projects are not restricted to those in the WBIF pipeline, i.e. applications for new projects may be submitted. However, all energy projects must demonstrate a regional impact except for smart grids in transmission and distribution lines as well as smart meters.

Transport projects must be part of the Core Network as defined under the Indicative Extension of the TEN-T Network to the Western Balkans. For the avoidance of doubt, only Core airports, Core inland waterway ports and Core maritime ports as defined under the Indicative Extension of the TEN-T Network to the Western Balkans are eligible for investment grants. 

Further details on how to apply may be found here.