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COVID-19: over €3.3 billion support for the Western Balkans

EU response to the coronavirus pandemic in the Western Balkans: over €3.3 billion to support the Western Balkans to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

EU response to the coronavirus crisis in the Western Balkans

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the EU has mobilised over €3.3 billion to support the Western Balkans:

to deal with the health crisis

  • €41.46 million of immediate support to the health sector to procure medical equipment and materials
  • €70 million for access to COVID-19 vaccines and implementation of vaccination campaigns
  • €7.35 million to assist in vaccine preparedness
  • €1.5 million to cooperate with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)

to kickstart the socio-economic recovery

  • €376.5 million to tackle economic and social consequences
  • €750 million of macro-financial assistance

to support businesses and public sector investment

  • €385 million to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
  • €1.7 billion of preferential loans by the European Investment Bank

Distribution per country:

Republic of Albania:

  • €4 million immediate support
  • €46.7 million of support for the social and economic recovery
  • €180 million of macro-financial assistance

Bosnia and Herzegovina:

  • €7.7 million of immediate support to the health sector
  • €73.5 million of support for the social and economic recovery
  • €250 million of macro-financial assistance

Kosovo*:

  • €5 million of immediate support to the health sector
  • €63 million of support for the social and economic recovery
  • €100 million of macro-financial assistance

Republic of North Macedonia:

  • €4 million of immediate support to the health sector
  • €9.5 million to strengthen health and water systems
  • €62 million of support for the social and economic recovery
  • €160 million of macro-financial assistance

Republic of Serbia:

  • €17.7 million of immediate support to the health sector
  • €77.4 million of support for the social and economic recovery

Montenegro:

  • €3 million of immediate support to the health sector
  • €40.5 million of support for the social and economic recovery
  • €60 million of macro-financial assistance

EU is #1 investor and trading partner of the Western Balkans region.

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.