Macedonia through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) has received grants of over Euro 5.67 million for eight projects. WBIF was presented Friday in Skopje by Vice PM Teuta Arifi and Christos Gofas - Head of Section in the European Commission Enlargement Directorate General.

"Today, a working meeting on Western Balkans and EU funds is being wrapped up. I think the meeting was effective. Within WBIF, Macedonia so far has applied with eight projects and has managed to receive nearly six million euros of investments in connection to several crucial projects," Arifi stated.

These projects include a feasibility study for pilot wind park development, construction of 400kV overhead line linking Macedonia and Serbia, Idrizovo prison reform, health provider institutions, technical assistance for ESIA study for national gasification system in the country, feasibility study and SEIA for Zletovica production and irrigation, feasibility study and SEIA for 400 kV transmission line Bitola (Macedonia) and Elbasan (Albania), main design for railways corridor VIII – section Kumanovo to Beljakovce.

"I believe all of these projects are vital for the well-being of the citizens in Macedonia. Moreover, the instrument is significant allowing Western Balkan countries to jointly apply for EU funds, making it easier for finances to be granted and to be invested in an efficient manner," the Vice PM said.

Christos Gofas said that WBIF, which was launched in 2009, has thus far provided 100 grants with a value of Euro 160 million for 93 infrastructure projects across countries in the region. The grants have already stimulated the interest of international financial institutions to provide investments more than Euro 4.7 billion contributing to total investment costs of over Euro 7.8 billion.

The Western Balkans Investment Facility is a major initiative providing innovative financing that pools grants in order to leverage loans to finance priority infrastructure projects in the transport, energy, environment and social sectors together with Private Sector Development support. Across the Western Balkans the programme has attracted in excess of initial targets, with over Euro 4.7 billion of loans supporting over Euro 7.8 billion of new infrastructure investments. It is a partnership between the European Union and three European IFIs: the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB).