EIB adds €1.7bn to EU COVID-19 support package for Western Balkans
The European Investment Bank Group will provide €1.7 billion to support the social and economic recovery of the Western Balkans from the COVID-19 pandemic.
National healthcare sectors and small and medium-sized enterprises in the region will be the immediate beneficiaries of the EU’s support package, which is also designed to strengthen the national banking sectors and provide technical assistance to realise development projects and stimulate much needed investments.
To ease the health, social and economic impacts of the pandemic, the EIB will provide new financing and accelerate signatures and disbursements of approved loans to private and public sector clients in the Western Balkans, with some €600 million earmarked for the private sector.
It is part of the €3.3 billion financial support package for the region announced on 29 April by the European Commission and follows the Team Europe efforts to support the Western Balkans.