December 2 (SeeNews) - The European Commission (EC) will provide 30 billion euro ($33.9 billion) in grants and loans to the Western Balkans countries in the next seven years under its Global Getaway strategy for infrastructure development, neighbourhood and enlargement commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said.
The funding will be extended for investments in rail and road infrastructure that will connect all capitals in the region with each other and with the European Union, as well as investments in energy connectivity aimed at phasing out coal as the major energy source, Varhelyi said in a statement on Wednesday.
Under the plan, the Commission will also complete the Halkali-Kapikule Railway Line in Turkey and invest up to 17 billion euro in projects in the Eastern Partnership countries.
Global Gateway aims to mobilise up to 300 billion euro in investments between 2021 and 2027 to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and transport and strengthen health, education and research systems across the world, the Commission said in a separate statement on Wednesday.
($ = 0.8838 euro)