EU disburses 100 million euros to Albania - Ranked the best performing country in the region!
The European Union has disbursed 100 million euros to Albania under the Western Balkans Growth Plan, after the country successfully completed 51% of the reform measures planned for the period December 2024 – June 2025. This funding ranks Albania as the best performing country in the region for this phase.
The funds include 46.2 million euros as direct loans to the State Treasury and 54.1 million euros for infrastructure projects through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF).
The European Commission is commending Albania’s progress in key areas such as energy, digitalisation, competitiveness and economic integration. This is a concrete step towards closer integration with the European single market, while other benefits for citizens – such as the elimination of roaming charges with the EU and the installation of free Wi-Fi in all municipalities – are in the pipeline.
The Reform and Growth Mechanism operates in six-month cycles, with the next disbursement scheduled for spring 2026.
Joint statement by the EU Delegation in Tirana and the National Coordinator of the Reform and Growth Mechanism in Albania:
Albania has made significant progress in implementing its Reform and Growth Agenda under the EU Growth Plan, fulfilling 21 out of 41 planned reform measures (51%) between December 2024 and June 2025. This has led the European Commission to disburse €99.3 million under the Reform and Growth Programme, making Albania the best performer in the region for this reporting period.
The payment, which was announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her visit to Tirana last week, demonstrates that Albania has implemented sustainable structural reforms in key areas such as energy, digitalization, competitiveness, sustainable development and economic integration.
The funds will support Albania's efforts to further boost economic growth and strengthen public institutions.
Specifically:
• EUR 46.2 million has been provided as a loan credited directly to the Treasury for the implementation of reforms;
• EUR 54.1 million (comprising EUR 28.5 million in grants and EUR 24.6 million in loans) is channeled through the EU's Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) to support infrastructure development projects. “The EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans is delivering results in Albania. The country is making steady progress through the Reform and Growth Agenda — and the EU is responding in kind. This new disbursement of €100 million is in line with the steps Albania has taken to advance reforms that bring tangible benefits to its citizens. Other Growth Plan initiatives are also delivering results: Albania’s banking system has adopted SEPA standards, reducing transaction costs for citizens, and next year we will complete free Wi-Fi installations in all municipalities and eliminate roaming charges between the EU and Albania,” said EU Ambassador to Albania Silvio Gonzato.
“The first results of the Reform and Growth Instrument represent an important indicator of how the new EU mechanism is being implemented in practice in Albania. They demonstrate the strengthening of planning, reporting and implementation capacities, the increase of institutional transparency and the efficiency of cooperation between Albanian institutions and the European Commission — all essential elements of Albania’s path towards EU membership,” said Eridana Cano, National Coordinator of the Reform and Growth Instrument in Albania.
The Reform and Growth Instrument operates on a six-monthly reporting cycle. Albania will submit its next report in early 2026, providing evidence of the reforms implemented between June and December 2025. The European Commission will then assess progress and fully achieved measures will be taken into account for the next disbursement under the Programme, scheduled for spring next year.
About the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans
The EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans is an initiative launched by the European Commission in 2023 to accelerate the region's economic convergence with the European Union and bring the benefits of European integration to citizens even before accession. It combines reform incentives with financial support of up to €6 billion for the region and up to €1 billion for Albania for the period 2024–2027. The plan supports the gradual integration of the Western Balkan economies into the EU Single Market and provides funding through the Reform and Growth Programme, based on partners' progress in implementing agreed reforms in areas such as energy transition, digitalisation, the rule of law, competitiveness and human capital development.
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