Serbian President Vucic to meet European Commission President von der Leyen in the Czech Republic, after her government presented its Reform Agenda to secure funding for the EU’s new Western Balkans growth plan
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in the Czech Republic. The two leaders will discuss the reforms requested by the Union from the Balkan country.
The meeting follows closely on the heels of the Serbian president’s meeting with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Belgrade on Thursday, to discuss economic issues, defense, energy and artificial intelligence. In particular, an agreement was signed for the sale of 12 French-made Rafale fighter jets to Serbia for a value of three billion euros.
Von der Leyen will discuss a reform agenda presented by the Serbian government to the European Commission, which is assessing it in an internal consultation phase.
This is part of the new growth plan for the Western Balkans, adopted by the European Commission in November, which will bring a total of 6 billion euros to the region, including Serbia. To receive the payment, however, the countries will have to adopt reform programs that bring them closer to the EU in view of accession.
Funding will depend on a number of conditions
The European Commission explains that financial support will depend on the successful implementation of the reforms envisaged in the agenda. They are divided into quantitative and qualitative.
Each phase will have an implementation timetable.
The appropriate funds will be disbursed twice a year, based on the beneficiary’s request and verification by the Commission, subject to a number of conditions. Some of these include respect for democratic mechanisms, namely a multi-party parliament, free and fair elections, media pluralism, independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.
Belgrade and Pristina must also meet an additional prerequisite: the normalization of their relations.
Pre-financing is expected by the end of 2024.
Of the six billion of the plan, two will be paid directly into the countries’ budgets, while four will be loans.
According to some estimates, still unofficial, Serbia could receive one billion and 630 million.
This article is originally published on it.euronews.com
