While the EU is itself heavily affected by the pandemic, it has spared no time and effort to provide essential and unparalleled support to the Western Balkans
EU citizens showed great support for their fellow Europeans in Montenegro and proving that solidarity is truly a core European value. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, the European Union allocated to Montenegro more than €55 million in non-repayable assistance and €60 million in highly favourable loans to help the sectors and individuals most affected by the crisis.
EU citizens showed great support for their fellow Europeans in Montenegro and proving that solidarity is truly a core European value. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, the European Union allocated to Montenegro more than €55 million in non-repayable assistance and €60 million in highly favourable loans to help the sectors and individuals most affected by the crisis.
Part of the non-repayable assistance has already been used to buy vital medical appliances for Montenegrin health institutions and the much-needed protective equipment for health workers. Some of the assistance will be used to build two new clinics, for infectious diseases and for dermato-venerology, set up a modern medical laboratory and improve testing capabilities for COVID-19. The remaining amount has been allocated to support the national budget in order to sustain the stability of the national economy, preserve vulnerable social groups’ access to basic social care and help access to economic relief for vulnerable businesses.
“EU is funding the same type of projects in the region that we are funding in our member states, which are infrastructure, digital transformation and green economy”
In addition, the Economic and Investment Plan offers to Montenegro and other Western Balkan countries huge financial support of up to €9 billion, with a potential of mobilising investments of up to €20 billion in the region in the next decade. It is important to say that the EU is funding the same type of projects in the region that we are funding in our member states, which are infrastructure, digital transformation and green economy. In that way, Montenegro and the region are already receiving the same treatment as if they were part of the EU. I hope that Montenegro will make good use of these funds to drive its reforms towards a modern, greener and more prosperous economy.
However, the unprecedented health and economic crisis showed us the importance of focusing on what unites us, rather than what divides us. In order to mitigate the human and economic impact of the crisis and move forward on its EU path, Montenegro needs to find broad political and societal support beyond party lines and other differences for the necessary reforms in key areas. Those include in particular, but not exclusively, the effective functioning of the judiciary, fight against corruption and safeguarding freedom of expression.