The Presidency of the European Council and the European Parliament have approved the interim agreement, giving the green light to the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.

In a reaction on social media, the Minister of Economy, Culture, and Innovation, Blendi Gonxhja, assessed it as exciting news.

“Major steps forward in the EU’s commitment to the Western Balkans. This decision marks a historic moment in the journey of the Balkan countries towards EU membership,” he said.

Gonxhja stated that the agreement foresees a €6 billion investment from the EU, which will boost economic growth throughout the region, bridging the gap in living standards between the Balkans and the EU.

But according to him, there’s even more.

“The EU’s commitment to accelerate the integration of Western Balkan countries into the Single Market and support for strengthening the Regional Common Market pave the way for the perspective of free movement of goods, services, and labor, promoting the common digital market, liberalizing transport, and integrating into industrial supply chains,” Gonxhja expressed.

The minister emphasized that “this achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and tireless work of many public agencies and institutions. They deserve our utmost gratitude for realizing this historic moment.”

/k.s/