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 about $6.5 billion to be sent to the Balkan states over the next three years in an
The leaders of five Western Balkan countries met Thursday in an effort to push ahead a European Union plan that promises financial aid and a faster road to membership in return for economic reform. 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. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, who hosted the summit in Tirana, called the new growth plan “a truly encouraging result of a friendly and open exchange of views.”
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
Leaders of Balkan countries have pledged their commitment to a new European Union financial aid plan aimed at boosting their economies with the ultimate goal of joining the EU.