7th WBIF Strategic and Operational Board meetings
The governing bodies of the WBIF met in Brussels on 24-25 April 2025 for the 7th Strategic and Operational Board meetings.
The first set of investment projects submitted by the beneficiaries to be financed under the new Reform and Growth Facility was presented and discussed.
All the projects are in the field of clean energy aiming at improving capacity of energy systems in the region to integrate renewable energy sources.
The WBIF plays an important role in implementing the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans, which is a key instrument under the EU’s Growth Plan to boost socio-economic convergence with the EU and to accelerate the accession process.
The WBIF is the financial mechanism that will channel €3 billion of grants and loans under the Facility to support priority investments in transport, energy, digital and human capital development.
The WBIF also approved the scaling-up of the Regional Energy Efficiency Programme (REEP)* with additional €90 million from the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA III).
Implemented by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the German development bank KfW, this programme is assisting the Western Balkan partners in decarbonising their economies through investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency measures across residential, public and private sectors. The meeting was also the opportunity to launch the new webpage showcasing the REEP activities, news and success stories: www.wbif.eu/reep-2025.
At the afternoon side-event, hosted by DG ENEST 'Bridging Markets: EU Industry & Investment in the Western Balkans' the EU and Western Balkan industry representatives explored how the WBIF is fostering infrastructure investment and creating business opportunities across the region. Over 40 participants — including engineering firms, consultancies, trade associations, and members of the WBIF Strategic Board — discussed investment opportunities from ongoing and pipeline WBIF projects, improving the business environment for EU and Western Balkans companies and addressed barriers facing EU companies in non-EU markets, with insightful contributions from European Investment Bank (EIB), European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC), European Federation of Engineering Consultancy Associations (EFCA), STRABAG, and representatives of national institutions and public companies from the Western Balkans.
The WBIF Board meetings brought together - in person and online – representatives from WBIF stakeholders (European Commission, EU Member States, Norway, Western Balkan partners and financial partner organisations) and observers (European Parliament, Transport Community, Energy Community, Regional Cooperation Council and WB6 Chamber Investment Forum). The meetings were co-chaired by the European Commission and Croatia as the Bilateral Donors’ Chair.
The meeting was closed with the WBIF’s 15-year anniversary video showing the key results 2009-2024.
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* With reservation to supporting energy efficiency measures in public sector buildings in the entity of Republika Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
