Build the necessary infrastructure for wastewater treatment

ROADMAP PROGRESS

According to the 2025 GARI, water supply, sanitation and wastewater infrastructure continues to represent the largest share of WBIF support within the environment sector. Progress in 2025 was characterised by continued implementation of flagship wastewater investments. In North Macedonia, implementation continued on the Skopje Wastewater Treatment Plant, a €204.8 million investment co-financed by a €72.7 million WBIF grant and serving nine municipalities. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, WBIF-supported programmes are expected to improve drinking water and sanitation access for nearly 590,000 people by 2030. In Kosovo*, construction continued on the €60.6 million Gjilan Wastewater Treatment Plant. In Montenegro, the €76.6 million Podgorica Wastewater Treatment Plant is under implementation. In Serbia, work continued on the Belgrade wastewater treatment plant and sewerage system, supported under the EU Economic and Investment Plan. For the 2024–2030 period, WBIF assistance is expected to support 23 projects across the WB6 focused on water supply, wastewater treatment and water loss reduction. Further efforts are needed to establish sustainable financial arrangements, strengthen milestone tracking, and build the technical and operational capacity of utilities to operate and maintain new infrastructure.

Note: Action 41 of the first Green Agenda Action Plan (2021–2030) is integrated into Action 27 in the Revised Action Plan (2025–2030), which focuses on expanding and modernising water monitoring infrastructure, and into investment planning processes, including Directive Specific Implementation Plans (DSIPs).

Source: Based on Statistical Offices of WB6 and Eurostat. Data compiled in Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) (2024) GARI Annex.

Note: Data coverage for the Western Balkans Six is incomplete. Information for Montenegro and North Macedonia is not available at present.