Four Western Balkan Economies Join Digital Europe Programme

Four Western Balkan economies join the Digital Europe Programme: Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. The association agreements have been signed on the margins of the Regulatory Dialogue with the Western Balkans.

The association agreements will enter into force immediately after the completed ratification processes. Eligible organisations including businesses and public administrations from these economies will be able to access the calls of the Digital Europe Programme. Its overall budget amounts to €7.5 billion until 2027.

Participants from these four economies will be able to take part in projects that deploy digital technologies across the EU in specific areas such as artificial intelligence and advanced digital skills.

They will also be able to set up Digital Innovation Hubs in their own regions.

This will bring them closer to the EU economy and society, benefit their technology capabilities and support digitalisation overall, notably of small and medium-sized businesses.

The Digital Europe Programme’s funds will complement funding available through other EU programmes such as Horizon Europe.

The objectives and specific topic areas that are currently eligible for funding are detailed in the Work Programmes.