Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration and National IPA Coordinator Bozidar Djelic participated today in Zagreb in a working meeting of national IPA coordinators of Western Balkan countries and Turkey and senior representatives of the European Commission (EC).

At this meeting, whose topic was the new financial perspectives for the period after 2013, Djelic presented the joint position of countries of the Western Balkans.

It includes linear (gradual) increase in funds, simplification of rules, greater role of national institutions in project preparation, timely adoption of rules for releasing funds and establishment of a guarantee fund for the Western Balkans.

EC representatives presented the concept of a new instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, through which financial support for the Western Balkans would be provided, reads a statement from the Cabinet of the Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration. This concept will be further elaborated by the EC in the future.