Competitiveness Policy Priorities for Western Balkans

Overview
Project Summary Document

TCRS 17467

Status Approved

Location

Regional

Business Sector

Working with EBRD

Notice Type

Public

PSD Disclosed

03 Nov 2023

Project Description

The Competitiveness Policy Priorities for Western Balkans (the Action) is a regional project aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of the private sector and MSMEs in the Western Balkans and thus supporting European Union (EU) accession efforts of the Region. The project will be financed by the EU under the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF).

Across the Western Balkans, businesses, and particularly MSMEs, are hindered by inadequate regulation, weak institutions, and a difficult business environment. These, and other challenges, limit firms’ ability to innovate, adopt new technologies, and integrate into global value chains. Therefore, the Action will identify and address policy priorities in each of the six Western Balkan countries to unlock growth opportunities for businesses in the region. The Action will also promote digitalisation as enabler of competitiveness, business climate and economic governance, and will offer a harmonised approach to interventions in the areas of competitiveness, economic governance, digital and innovative, while aligning with green transition principles.

The main objective of the Action is to enhance competitiveness of the private sector, thus contributing to the implementation of the European Commission’s Economic and Investment Plan (EIP) for the Western Balkans (the priority 2.5. of the EIP) and the EU accession process of the Region. This will be achieved through two phases:

Phase 1: Developing competitiveness policy priorities (CPP) documents:

Perform diagnostics of obstacles to and opportunities for competitiveness of the private sector, with particular focus on obstacles in relation to digital and innovative MSMEs, in each of the six Western Balkans economies, as well as at regional level.
Outline policy priorities for each country (short, medium and long term) and propose technical assistance interventions (to be taken forward in Phase 2 of this project both at country and regional level so as to address identified constrains and enhance private sector competitiveness) in line with these policy priorities (and potentially financial instruments).
Draft CPP documents, consult and seek feedback on them from key stakeholders, including EC, EU Delegations in 6 WB countries, government and relevant public bodies, business representatives, and IFIs.
Finalise CPP documents (to be updated annually) and present them to stakeholders.

Phase 2: Implementation of selected technical assistance activities (TAs) identified within the CPP documents to address priority reform actions (some of these to be implemented at regional level, and some at national level) :

Preparatory activities: include all activities following the CPPs validation process until the start of the TAs implementation (developing project proposals and aligning with stakeholders, developing project documentation, running selection and procurement processes and contracting of consulting services).
Action implementation: include effective implementation of selected CPP TAs aimed to deliver a set of objectives for each of them as well as to achieve overall objectives of the Action.

Understanding Transition

Further information regarding the EBRD’s approach to measuring transition impact is available here.

Business opportunities

For business opportunities or procurement, contact the client company.

For business opportunities with EBRD (not related to procurement) contact:

Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

For state-sector projects, visit EBRD Procurement:

Tel: +44 20 7338 6794
Email: procurement@ebrd.com

Enquiries

Business opportunities

For business opportunities or procurement, contact the client company.

For business opportunities with EBRD (not related to procurement) contact:

Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

For state-sector projects, visit EBRD Procurement:

Tel: +44 20 7338 6794
Email: procurement@ebrd.com

General enquiries

Specific enquiries can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form.

TCRS 17467

Status Approved

Location

Regional

Business Sector

Working with EBRD

Notice Type

Public

PSD Disclosed

03 Nov 2023

Project Description

Phase 1: Developing competitiveness policy priorities (CPP) documents:

Perform diagnostics of obstacles to and opportunities for competitiveness of the private sector, with particular focus on obstacles in relation to digital and innovative MSMEs, in each of the six Western Balkans economies, as well as at regional level.
Outline policy priorities for each country (short, medium and long term) and propose technical assistance interventions (to be taken forward in Phase 2 of this project both at country and regional level so as to address identified constrains and enhance private sector competitiveness) in line with these policy priorities (and potentially financial instruments).
Draft CPP documents, consult and seek feedback on them from key stakeholders, including EC, EU Delegations in 6 WB countries, government and relevant public bodies, business representatives, and IFIs.
Finalise CPP documents (to be updated annually) and present them to stakeholders.

Preparatory activities: include all activities following the CPPs validation process until the start of the TAs implementation (developing project proposals and aligning with stakeholders, developing project documentation, running selection and procurement processes and contracting of consulting services).
Action implementation: include effective implementation of selected CPP TAs aimed to deliver a set of objectives for each of them as well as to achieve overall objectives of the Action.

Understanding Transition

Further information regarding the EBRD’s approach to measuring transition impact is available here.

Business opportunities

For business opportunities or procurement, contact the client company.

For business opportunities with EBRD (not related to procurement) contact:

Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

For state-sector projects, visit EBRD Procurement:

Tel: +44 20 7338 6794
Email: procurement@ebrd.com

Any competitive selections for business opportunities relating to this project will be published on the EBRD's website: Consultancy Procurement Opportunities.

General enquiries

EBRD project enquiries not related to procurement:
Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

Access to Information Policy (AIP)

The AIP sets out how the EBRD discloses information and consults with its stakeholders so as to promote better awareness and understanding of its strategies, policies and operations following its entry into force on 1 January 2020. Please visit the Access to Information Policy page to find out what information is available from the EBRD website.

Specific requests for information can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form

Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)

If efforts to address environmental, social or public disclosure concerns with the Client or the Bank are unsuccessful (e.g. through the Client’s Project-level grievance mechanism or through direct engagement with Bank management), individuals and organisations may seek to address their concerns through the EBRD’s Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM).

IPAM independently reviews Project issues that are believed to have caused (or to be likely to cause) harm. The purpose of the Mechanism is: to support dialogue between Project stakeholders to resolve environmental, social and public disclosure issues; to determine whether the Bank has complied with its Environmental and Social Policy or Project-specific provisions of its Access to Information Policy; and where applicable, to address any existing non-compliance with these policies, while preventing future non-compliance by the Bank.

Please visit the Independent Project Accountability Mechanism webpage to find out more about IPAM and its mandate; how to submit a Request for review; or contact IPAM via email ipam@ebrd.com to get guidance and more information on IPAM and how to submit a request.

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Competitiveness Policy Priorities for Western Balkans

Project Description

Understanding Transition

Business opportunities

Enquiries

Business opportunities

General enquiries

Project Description

Understanding Transition

Business opportunities

General enquiries

Access to Information Policy (AIP)

Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)