As part of Montenegro’s presidency of the Western Balkans Fund (WBF), the first meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials was held at the Fund’s Secretariat in Tirana

At the meeting, held on 23–24 April 2026, a strong commitment of Montenegro to strengthening regional cooperation and enhancing the visibility of the Fund as a unique organization under regional ownership was reaffirmed. The results of the Fund’s work for the reporting period December 2025 – April 2026 were presented, as well as planned activities of importance for its further work and regional connectivity.

Members of the Committee expressed particular gratitude to Montenegro for its dedicated approach, as well as its constructive and proactive engagement, especially in the context of promoting project opportunities, which resulted in a high number of applications from countries in the region - particularly from Montenegro - under the Eighth Call for Proposals.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss next steps aimed at strengthening the institutional framework of the Fund.