The European Union and the World Bank signed a €54 million grant agreement in Tirana on Friday to support safer and more sustainable transport in the Western Balkans. The deal, concluded during the “Growth Plan – Our Path to the EU” summit, brings total EU support for the program to €134 million.
EU representative Valentina Superti said the funds will help improve road and rail safety, expand key transport lanes, strengthen technical capacities, and accelerate the digitalization of transport systems. She underlined that easier and faster border crossings will directly boost regional trade and economic cooperation.
World Bank Country Director Xiaoqing Yu welcomed the agreement, stressing that the new grant highlights the Bank’s long-term commitment to developing transport infrastructure in the Western Balkans. She noted that the program’s first phase, worth €18 million, is already 89% funded and leverages an additional €219 million from the World Bank to support regional connectivity.
Yu added that safer and more efficient transport is essential for deepening economic ties and bringing the region closer to the European Union. The Transport Facilitation 2 program, she said, is a concrete example of how joint EU–WB initiatives can strengthen cooperation and attract further investment.
