23-06-2022
WBIF 2nd Strategic and 3rd Operational Board Meetings
On 21 and 22 June, the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) held its 2nd Strategic Board and 3rd Operat...
The WBIF Bilateral Donors reiterate their strong support for a sustainable and green development of the Western Balkans. Within the WBIF, concerted efforts and coordination with partners are as important as ever. The bilateral donors are actively involved in the WBIF governance and operations through the potential co-financing of environment and social projects and the approval of all grant requests for technical assistance. The Bilateral Donors welcome the EU’s clear commitment to support green and sustainable investments in accordance with the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, a highly timely and important step to support the region in the joint endeavour of carbon neutrality across Europe. Also, the social dimension – among others – plays a key role for human capital formation in the Western Balkan region; investments channeled through the WBIF in key areas such as in health and education are imperative to continue improving the quality of life in the Western Balkans in a collaborative way, especially in a time of crisis.
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Active Bilateral Donor Contributions to WBIF
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| Country |
Pledges in 2019 (€m) |
Pledges in 2020 (€m) |
Total 2 (€m)
|
 |
2.0 | 2.0 | 4.0 |
Germany |
2.0 | 1.4 | 3.4 |
Italy |
3.0 | - | 3.0 |
Luxembourg |
0.5 | - | 0.5 |
Poland |
1.5 | - | 1.5 |
Norway |
2.0 | 2.3 | 4.3 |
 |
2.8 | 2.9 | 5.7 |
|
Total
|
13.8 | 8.6 | 22.4 |
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The Bilateral Donors are pleased to have pledged another €8.6 million of contributions to the Joint Fund and further approved €9.24 million for three investment grants in the environmental and social sectors in 2020.
23-06-2022
On 21 and 22 June, the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) held its 2nd Strategic Board and 3rd Operat...
06-04-2022
The first large-scale solar plant in North Macedonia ‒ financed with the support of the European Union, WBIF b...
25-02-2022
Today, the European Commission has unveiled a substantial €3.2 billion investment package to support 21 transp...
Total:
€107.3 m
€102.1 m
Direct contributions to WBIF’s European Western Balkans Joint Funds
€5.2 m
Transfers from the EBRD Western Balkan Fund (WBF)
Austria
Czech Republic
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Poland
Slovenia
Sweden
United Kingdom
EBRD Fund
The bilateral donors have contributed to fourteen investment grants worth €40.3 million for the co-financing of twelve projects of €291.4 million in the environment and social sectors. These grants have helped fund infrastructure projects with a high impact on people’s lives, from healthcare and education facilities to public infrastructure for clean water and sanitation services. Through these investments, the funding made available by the WBIF actively promotes social cohesion and protects the environment across the region.
The new Multiannual Financial Framework for the EU (2021-2027) aims at ensuring improved coherence and overall donor coordination between the EU and the Western Balkans.
In line with the strategic orientation of the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+), the IPA III Regulation envisages a new governance for WBIF, whereby the EU 27 Member States become full members of the WBIF’s novel governing bodies, the Strategic and Operational Boards.
Other bilateral donors that contribute funds directly to the WBIF, such as Norway, will continue to function as members of the governing bodies of the WBIF [note from KM Dec 20 @ SC meeting].
Bilateral Donors and the new WBIF governance
The updated WBIF governance foresees that active Bilateral Donors, those that pledge directly to WBIF, will become members of the PFG and take part in the decision-making process on the allocation of their pledged funds (in the PFG and the Assembly of Contributors).
Such membership is timely limited to the year of the pledge and the following two years, when and where these funds will be allocated to finance projects. Renewed pledges will thus lead to permanent membership in the PFG. In-active Bilateral Donors will be represented by the WBIF Bilateral Donor Co-chair and have further observer status.
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Under IPA II
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Under IPA III
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Governance bodies |
Steering Committee (Sessions A, B, C), PFG |
Strategic Board, Operational Board, PFG |
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Membership |
European Commission, Bilateral Donors, IFIs |
European Commission, EU 27, additional Bilateral Donors (Norway), IFIs |
|
Observers |
Regional organisations, NIPACs |
European Parliament, regional organisations, NIPACs |
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Decision making |
WBIF SC and Assembly of Contributors (consecutively) |
IPA committee for EU funds Assembly of Contributors for other funds |
Clean water for 14,000 households
8 new small wastewater treatment plants for 11,000 people.
Improved sanitation services for 3,400 households.
Reduced negative impact on the environment and public health
Wastewater treatment plant and improved sanitation services for 110,000 people.
Reduced negative impact on the environment and public health.
Clean water for 12,300 households
2 wastewater treatment plants for 208,400 people.
Improved sanitation services for 51,700 households.
Reduced negative impact on the environment and public health
Clean water for 12,300 households
2 wastewater treatment plants for 208,400 people.
Improved sanitation services for 51,700 households.
Reduced negative impact on the environment and public health
Improved water services for more than 1,400,000 people
Sanitation services for 12,000 households.
Reduced negative impact on the environment and public health.
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In 2022, the WBIF stakeholders endorsed 24 flagship projects in key railway, road and waterway interconnection...
