Tim za socijalno uključivanje i smanjenje siromaštva

The summit gathering leaders from the Western Balkans and senior EU officials in Trieste saw the signing of a 48 million euros agreement on the Western Balkans Enterprise Development and Innovation Facility, which represents an inflow of cash in addition to the already available 100 million euros to support companies in the region. On July 12 at the ceremonial signing that took place at the Business Forum of the Summit for the Western Balkans, European Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn said that the donation would provide support for the development and operation of 6,000 companies in the region. At the same time, the Serbian Minister of Finance and an EIB representative signed the third agreement on funding the reconstruction of clinical centers in Serbia worth 50 million euros.

The European Investment Fund, World Bank, and other international financial organizations also secured funding for the Western Balkans Enterprise Development and Innovation Facility.

According to Hahn, over the last ten years the EU has already invested 220 million euros for these purposes, which enabled companies in the region to receive 400,000 loans worth more than three billion euros.

As he said, there are still significant opportunities for development in the Western Balkans and that is why it is necessary and to actually support this by financial means.

Source: Beta, downloaded at www.euractiv.rs