Canaj: It is unknown when Kosovo will receive funds from the Growth Plan

University professor and former diplomat Blerim Canaj stated for Kosovo Online that it is difficult to say when Kosovo can expect the first payment from the funds allocated by the European Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, because, as he said, even if Kosovo had a formed government, "no one knows what to expect."

Although it was previously stated that a special condition for Pristina, as well as for Belgrade, to receive this money would be the implementation of obligations from the dialogue, Canaj says that at this moment, it is unclear what will be required in the dialogue from either Kosovo or Serbia, given that Donald Trump is in power in the United States.

"It is possible that he will say, 'I will start where I left off in 2019 with the Washington Agreement,' and there are also some other topics. So, for now, I don't believe that anyone will be able to say what could happen regarding the dialogue and the European Union. We all know what the situation is like in Europe, in Germany, in France… We have to wait, to 'read the situations,' so we can understand how the game will be played going forward," Canaj stated.

He emphasizes that the payment of funds to Pristina will certainly depend on the normalization of relations with Belgrade, but he also says that the question is whether the EU would disburse the funds and whether they are available, considering the situation with the war in Ukraine.