Western Balkans leaders pledge to speed up reforms for EU growth plan

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — The leaders of Western Balkan countries agreed Thursday to speed up regional cooperation to benefit more from a new European Union plan of financial aid that will help provide a faster road to membership. Brussels' plan calls for 6 billion euros (about $6.5 billion) to be sent to the Balkan states over the next three years in an effort to double the region's economy over the next decade and accelerate their efforts to the join the bloc. That aid is contingent on reforms th

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