TIRANA – Two high-level events held in Tirana: the Ministerial Meeting on the EU Growth Plan and the Growth Plan Leaders’ Summit brought together prime ministers, ministers, regional leaders, the European Commission, regional organisations, and international partners for discussions aimed at accelerating reforms and strengthening the Western Balkans’ integration into the EU Single Market.
Over the course of the meetings on 20-21 November, participants reaffirmed that deeper connectivity and the free movement of goods remain essential drivers of innovation, competitiveness, and long-term economic growth. The Transport Community underlined a core principle: as trade grows and the movement of goods increases, border waiting times must decrease.
Director of the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community, Mr Matej Zakonjšek, highlighted progress made over the past years in improving border efficiency across the region. Key achievements include the rollout of one-stop controls at several Western Balkans border crossings, the opening or near-completion of major new crossing points such as Gradiška and Sremska Rača, continued upgrades at Horgoš, and six Green Lanes agreements already signed with EU Member States. More agreements are expected in the months ahead.
Both meetings showcased a strong political commitment to further advancing the Green Lanes initiative, a flagship Transport Community and CEFTA priority aimed at modernising border procedures, increasing predictability, and strengthening regional cooperation. The initiative is increasingly recognised as a tool to improve transport and trade, as well as a strategic pathway towards deeper EU integration.
“Connectivity remains central to these goals. When border procedures are efficient, systems interoperable, and reforms coordinated, citizens and businesses across the region feel tangible benefits in their daily lives and economic opportunities,” Mr Zakonjšek pointed out.
On the margins of the Leaders’ Summit, an important development further strengthened the region’s transport reform agenda. The World Bank and the EU Directorate-General for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood signed a €54 million grant agreement for the Safe and Sustainable Transport Programme in the Western Balkans, bringing total EU support to this programme through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) to €134 million since 2023. This new financing package marks a boost for ongoing efforts to modernise border crossings across the region. The Transport Community welcomes this commitment and looks forward to continuing its close cooperation with the World Bank, WBIF, and the European Commission through the next phase of the Safe and Sustainable Transport Programme.
The Transport Community will continue to support regional partners in building a modern, efficient, and interoperable transport system that facilitates sustainable growth and brings the Western Balkans closer to the European Union.
