Slow reforms threaten €700 million in EU funds

Western Balkan countries that miss European Union reform targets could lose about €700 million in funding.

The EU would redirect the unused money to countries that complete more of the agreed reforms.

Albania and Montenegro are expected to meet about 90% of their targets. Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina are further behind.

Albania has received €212 million from a total allocation of €922.1 million. Montenegro has received about €90 million from €383 million.

Kosovo has received only an initial payment of €61 million. Political deadlock delayed approval of the agreements needed to begin the programme.

The European Commission will publish the final funding losses by October.