The WBIF in Kosovo*

Estimated Project Value: €1.4 billion

WBIF Grants: €194.3 million, out of which €175.1 million from the EU and €19.2 million from other donors

Loans Signed: €265 million

The WBIF has supported 30 projects with an overall estimated value of €1.4 billion across all eligible sectors. The WBIF has provided €194.3 million in grants, whereas the loans signed on WBIF projects have reached €265 million. The EU support channelled through the WBIF accounts for €175.1 million and covers both technical assistance and investment works.

The WBIF has helped prepare build water and waste water systems, ensuring continuous access to basic municipal services to its citizens. It has assisted in the rehabilitation of the district heating system in Pristina and the implementation of energy efficiency measures in public buildings throughout the country. Better education and healthcare facilities have been planned for and are currently being implemented. Moreover, the WBIF has contributed to the development of essential road and rail transport routes, which will ensure the country's connections within the region and with the EU, and to the preparation of broadband investments.

The WBIF supports Kosovo in fulfilling key objectives of the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans by 2024, including

Flagship 1 - Connecting East to West: The ‘Peace Highway’ in Kosovo (linking Pristina with Niš, in Serbia) will be finished.
Flagship 2 - Connecting North to South: The Railway Route connecting Belgrade with Pristina will be further upgraded.
Flagship 4 - Renewable energy: Preparations for the construction of the Ibër-Lepenc Hydro System Phase II will be accelerated.
Flagship 5 - Transition from coal: The gas interconnection with North Macedonia will be prepared for construction.
Flagship 7 - Waste and waste water management: Pristina waste water treatment plant will be completed.

Achieved results (2009 - 2020):

District heating system rehabilitated for 13,500 customers in Pristina
57 public buildings renovated and over 480,000 MWh/year in energy savings
Improved water supply systems for 550,000 people

Expected results (2021 - 2028):

53 km of motorways
213 km of railway lines rehabilitated
District heating systems for 1.2 million people
74 public buildings renovated over 640,000 MWh/year in energy savings
Improved water and waste water systems for 900,000 people
600,000 people protected from floods
Healthcare treatment and research facilities for 2.2 million people
136,500 students and teachers in 500 primary and secondary schools connected to high-speed broadband

Out of 30 supported projects, 5 have been completed, 4 are being implemented, 2 are tendering for works to start construction, and 19 are at various stages of preparation. In addition, Kosovo has benefited from regional projects and initiatives funded by the WBIF, such as the Regional Energy Efficiency Programme for the Western Balkans (REEP and REEP Plus) and the Western Balkan Enterprise Development and Innovation Facility (EDIF).

For more details on the current status of the WBIF operations in Kosovo, please visit our Projects page.

2016 Connectivity Project

Orient/East-Med Corridor: Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje – Mitrovicë/Mitrovica Section, (c) Infrakos. 35 km of railway track and 5 railway stations upgraded to modern, TEN-T standards.

€47.7 million investment value

€17.6 million EU grant for construction works

€8.6 million EBRD loan

€20.7 million EIB loan

For more details, please see the Project Summary (last updated November 2018).

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.