The European Commission has taken the key step to enable the first payments to the countries of the Western Balkans from the Growth and Reform Plan, by approving the reform agendas for Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia at the October 23 meeting.

The European Commission said it took this decision after the member states of the European Union have given their consent to these agendas.

Bosnia and Herzegovina remains the only country for which the reform agenda has not yet been approved. This state was the only one that did not submit the reform agenda on time.

“In their ambitious reform plans, the five governments of the Western Balkan countries express their commitment to fundamental and socio-economic reforms that they will undertake to ensure growth and convergence with the EU within the framework of the Growth Plan, during the period from 2024 to 2017”, the EU announcement said.