Connectivity Agenda : Co-financing of Investment Projects in the Western Balkans 2017

Connectivity Agenda Improving connectivity within the Western Balkans, as well as between the Western Balkans and the European Union, is a key factor for growth and jobs and will bring clear benefits for the region's economies and citizens. The Western Balkans six (WB6) has made the connectivity agenda one of ist highest priorities, with a special emphasis on the preparation and financing of concrete regional infrastructure investment projects, but also on the implementation of technical standards and reform measures such as aligning/simplifying border crossing procedures, railway reforms, information systems, road safety and maintenance schemes, unbundling and third party access. The National Investment Committees (NICs) are responsible fpr definingand managing the prioritised Single ProjectPipelines,and serve as a basisfpr programming ofall available financing sources (including national and other donors). The European Commission will, via the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), co-finance mature energy projects from the PECIs (Projects of the Energy Community Interest) and the PMIs (Projects of Mutual Interest) as well as mature transport projects from the TEN-T (Trans-European Transport) Core Network, together with loans from Financial Institutions.