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Albania has made significant progress in implementing its Reform and Growth Agenda according to the EU Growth Plan, fulfilling 21 out of 41 planned reform measures (51%) from December 2024 to June 2025. This has led the European Commission to disburse 99.3 million euros under the Instrument for Reform and Growth, making Albania the best performer in the region for this reporting period.
The payment, which was announced by the President of the European Commission 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 stimulate economic growth and strengthen public institutions. Specifically: 46.2 million euros have been provided as a direct loan to the Treasury for the implementation of reforms; 54.1 million euros (composed of 28.5 million euros in grants and 24.6 million euros in loans) are channeled through the EU Investment Framework for the Western Balkans (WBIF) to support infrastructure development projects.
“The EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans is delivering results in Albania. The country is making sustainable progress through the Reform and Growth Agenda, and the EU is responding in kind. This new disbursement of 100 million euros aligns with the steps Albania has taken to advance reforms that bring tangible benefits to its citizens. Other initiatives of the Growth Plan are also yielding results: Albania’s banking system has adopted SEPA standards, reducing transaction costs for citizens, while next year we will complete free Wi-Fi installations in all municipalities and eliminate roaming charges between the EU and Albania,” said the EU ambassador to Albania Silvio Gonzato.
“The initial results of the Instrument for Reform and Growth 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, increased 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 Instrument for Reform and Growth in Albania.
The Instrument for Reform and Growth operates on a six-month reporting cycle. Albania will present its next report at the beginning of 2026, providing evidence of the reforms implemented between June and December 2025. The European Commission will then assess the progress, and fully achieved measures will be taken into account for the next disbursement under the Instrument, planned for the spring of next year.
The EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans is an initiative undertaken by the European Commission in 2023 to accelerate the economic convergence of the region with the European Union and to bring the benefits of European integration to citizens even before membership. (October 24)