Call for expressions of interest from EU/EEA/Western Balkans-based businesses to invest in the Western Balkans

In the framework of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and to support investments in the region by the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and the Western Balkans (WB) companies, the European Commission is launching a Call for Expression of Interest from EU/EEA/WB based businesses who seek to invest in any of the WB economies or at regional level in line with EU strategic areas of interest and policy priorities. 

The Call is announced at the Adria Summit, in Tivat, Montenegro, on 09 April 2025. The first phase of this Call for Expression of Interest is open for submissions until 21 May 2025.

The objective of this Call for Expressions of Interest is to enter into dialogue with EU/EEA and Western Balkans private companies on concrete investment opportunities and identify how to overcome related constraints in the Western Balkans region. 

This dialogue is aimed at building a pipeline of transformative private investments in the region, that could potentially be supported by the European Commission with its available policy, technical and financial instruments. Based on assessment criteria, subsequent contact with partner Financial Institutions may be facilitated for potential financial cooperation. 

Participation in this Call does not constitute any form of partnership, joint venture, or other legal relationship between the Participant and the European Commission. It does not imply any guarantee of financial support, either from the European Commission or any partner Financial Institutions. The publication of this Call for Expressions of Interest also does not commit the EU to finance the project investment proposal.

All project proposals presented to the European Commission will be assessed based on the criteria outlined in this Call and will be treated equally, ensuring a fair and transparent assessment process. All information submitted as part of the project proposal will be treated confidentially and used solely for the purposes of evaluating the proposals in accordance with the criteria specified in this Call. 

The priority areas of the Call are based on the strategic priorities of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans as well as of the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF). They are focused onkey economic sectors requiring Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) including:

• Green Transition: Investments in clean energy solutions, including renewable energy sources, energy efficiency measures, and innovative energy technologies, to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, foster circular economy, mitigate climate change and modernise existing energy, water and wastewater treatment infrastructure, waste management infrastructure.
• Integration into the industrial supply chains/manufacturing: Investments that foster integration into notably EU industrial supply chains and modernisation of manufacturing sectors.
• (Critical) Raw Materials: Investments to ensure reliable and environmentally responsible access to (critical) raw materials in order to support the development of key industries across all supply chain stages.
• Sustainable Transport: Investmentsto modernise sustainable transport systems, including urban mobility, and digital infrastructure to enhance connectivity, build smart cities, reduce emissions and foster innovation and cross-sector efficiency.
• Digital transition: Investments to promote the overall digital transition of the economy (e.g. digitalisation of businesses, the roll-out of broadband – including 5G, compliant with the EU security toolbox, data infrastructures, digital infrastructures in education and health, etc.). 
• Sustainable tourism: Investments in sustainable tourism initiatives that prioritize environmental protection, cultural and natural heritage preservation and community engagement, with the aim to promote economic growth, quality employment and social development.
• Human Capital Development: Investments to support the development of skills and/or have a social dimension (e.g. care economy, social housing, health, etc.)
• Impact finance: Investments to set up private equity and venture capital funds aimed at supporting policy priorities of the EU and notably to have a strong green and/or social impact.

Eligibility Criteria

To ensure a structured and transparent assessment, the following criteria will be used for evaluating the eligibility of project proposals:

1. Geographic Area: Western Balkans (investments taking place in one or more of the following economies: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia).
2. Private Sector: Eligible Participants to the Call shall be private enterprises, joint venture or a consortium of companies, possessing a valid VAT registration number and the EU Transparency registration number (note: Entities without a valid VAT registration number will be excluded from this Call for Expression of Interest). Entities listed in the Early Detection and Exclusion System (EDES) data base are excluded from this Call for Expressions of Interest.If the project is conducted by a consortium, the consortium leader and all consortium members must be based in the EU or EEA or in one of the Western Balkans economies.
3. Nationality of Private Entity: EU/EEA/Western Balkans-based businesses (companies possessing their real legal seat / legal incorporation in one of the EU Member States/EEA/Western Balkans economies). ‘Real legal seat’ must be understood as the place where its managing board and central administration, or its principal place of business, are located.
4. Alignment with Policy Priorities: Projects should focus on the Western Balkans’ real economy sectors and support diversification and competitiveness of the Western Balkans in line with the priority areas outlined in the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and in the WBIF.
5. Minimum Investment Size: Projects must meet the following minimum investment threshold: size of the total investment project of at least EUR 10 million and equity/own resources participation by the project promoter of at least 15% of the total value of the investment project. 

^.For more information, e.g. about the assessment criteria and submission of projects, please see the source page of this announcement: https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/enlargement-policy/enhanced-eu-engagement-western-balkans/publication-call-expressions-interest-eueeawestern-balkans-based-businesses-invest-western-balkans_en