(ANSA) - BRUSSELS, 29 APR - The EU Commission has allocated over 3.3 billion aid jointly with the the European Investment Bank (EIB) to sustain the economic and social recovery of the Western Balkans during the coronavirus crisis. "We have a special responsibility to sustain in this pandemic our partners of the Western Balkans, as their future clearly lies in the EU, " and " together we will recover from the crisis," said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, stressing that Brussels continues to "support the region with the reforms needed on their EU path".

The aid-package was launched by the EU Commission at the end of March firstly with 38 million euros for the health emergency.

Then, direct financing for SMEs, reallocation of pre-accession funds (IPA) and EIB loans were announced. "The EU proved to stand by the Western Balkans by providing essential support for immediate needs and recovery", wrote the EU High Representative, Josep Borrell, on Twitter. "Our work will continue as we prepare an economic and investment plan, to tackle the hard impact of the crisis and modernise the economies of the six countries", commented the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi.

(ANSA).