EU to raise pre-accession help to Western Balkans – Fund of EUR 14.5 billion announced for 2021-2027 period

European Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, announced an increase in the pre-accession budget (IPA III) for candidate states and potential candidates from 12 to 14.5 billion euros for the period from 2021 till 2027.

– This mostly pertains to the Western Balkans – Hahn said.

These pre-accession instruments act as support to candidate states and potential candidates in meeting the criteria for the accession to the EU and carrying out thorough reforms.

Hahn also announced a change in the manner of financing, which is shifting from financing specific countries to thematic financing.

– This will enable us to be more flexible in order to create a kind of competition and push candidate countries to accelerate their progress. This way, we will raise our efficiency and the quality of our engagement – Hahn said.

He believes that the reformed and increased budget will enable the EU to continue working with the countries making efforts towards the EU accession and that it will support the strategic goals of achieving stability, security and prosperity in the EU border areas.

EU external budget grows to 9%

Regarding the key elements of the new external budget proposal, the funding will increase from EUR 94.5 billion in the period 2014-2020 to EUR 123 billion from 2021-2027, up by 30%. The share of the EU external budget in the Union’s total budget thereby increases from six to nearly nine percent.

In addition to the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, the EU external budget also encompasses the Neighborhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (EUR 89.2 billion), a humanitarian aid instrument (EUR 11 billion), the European Instrument for Nuclear Safety (EUR 300 million), an investment framework for external action, as well as the proposed European Peace Facility.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION Bruxelles

European Commission

European Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations

Johannes Hahn

Instrument for Pre Accession Assistance

IPA III

IPA

EU candidates

budget for support to EU candidates

Neighborhood Development and International Cooperation Instrument

humanitarian aid instrument

European Instrument for Nuclear Safety

investment framework for external action

European Peace Facility