West will give £1bn for building projects in Balkans
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Up to 1.7bn euros (£1bn) will be pledged today for Balkan reconstruction as the West moves to deliver its pledge to shore up the economic and social stability of south-east Europe.
Up to 1.7bn euros (£1bn) will be pledged today for Balkan reconstruction as the West moves to deliver its pledge to shore up the economic and social stability of south-east Europe.
One year after the start of the Nato bombing campaign against Yugoslav forces, senior officials from 80 countries and international bodies began a two-day conference in Brussels, intended to find financing for reconstruction projects throughout the region.
The bulk of the schemes will be on a shortlist of 35 "quick start" projects that Western donors want to begin over the next 12 months. They include roads, railways, ports and bridges to underpin the strategy of encouraging trade among Balkan countries.
One project will see the upgrading of the Blace border post in Macedonia, through which tens of thousands of Kosovo refugees fled last year; another is the construction of a new bridge over the Danube between Romania and Bulgaria.
The conference, hosted by the European Commission and the World Bank, is expected to pledge a total of 1.787bn euros to the Stability Pact for South-east Europe, an international initiative to promote reforms and prevent further conflicts. EU officials had lined up likely funding for about 80 per cent of the projects before the conference began.
Chris Patten, European commissioner for external relations, said the conference was about "the immediate future and making a real difference over the coming months".
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments