The countries in the Western Balkans risk not completing the European transport network by 2030 due to delays and operational issues.

A report from the European Court of Auditors warns that the countries in the Western Balkans, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, may not meet the 2030 deadline for completing the central European transport network.

Delays in implementation and operational difficulties, such as the selection of insufficiently mature projects and oversight deficiencies, hinder progress. The European Union supports these countries through the Investment Framework for the Western Balkans, allocating 527 million euros for transport projects. However, auditors emphasize that the current pace of advancement is too slow to meet the accession criteria. The European Commission needs to improve the selection and monitoring of projects to ensure the sustainability and visibility of investments. Additionally, issues of sustainability and maintenance of existing infrastructure have been identified, raising questions about the effectiveness of the allocated funds.