EC expected to decide after July 15 on reform funds for the Western Balkans

The deadline for the fourth reporting period on the implementation of reforms under the Growth Plan ended on June 30. The Western Balkan countries, meanwhile, must submit their reports on the implementation of reforms to the European Commission by July 15.

After this deadline expires, according to European Commission officials, the assessment of compliance with obligations will begin, on the basis of which a decision will then be made on the payments due to each country. As has been announced, these payments will be disbursed only after it is confirmed that the reforms set out in the reform agendas have been fully implemented.

European Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier said: “What is really important to stress is that we encourage our partners in the Western Balkans to make the most of this instrument, because it allows them to benefit from funds and use them to their full potential. Therefore, we strongly urge them to do so and remain available to support each of them throughout this process”.

For Kosovo, June 30 coincided with the deadline for completing 13 reform steps, which have a total value of around 91 million euros.

Also on June 30, 2026, the so-called grace period for implementing reform steps that had initially been foreseen to be carried out in the middle of last year ended as well, at a time when the country was in an institutional crisis.

The Growth Plan Regulation provides that if reform steps are not carried out within the grace period and their deadline expires, the funds planned for them may be redirected to other beneficiaries.