EU contribution to the Western Balkans Investment Framework 2021-2023 (2021-2027 WBIF) In October 2020 the European Commission adopted a comprehensive Economic and Investment Plan (EIP) for the Western Balkans, which aims to spur the long-term economic recovery of the region, support a green and digital transition, foster regional integration and convergence with the European Union.The EIP is accompanied by the Guidelines for implementing the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans (GAWB), which further detail investments and actions that can foster the green transition in the region under the EIP and beyond. With the EIP, the Western Balkans Agenda on Innovation, Research, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport and the Green Agenda, the EU provides strong support for economic recovery and reform for a modern, greener and more prosperous Western Balkans delivering better to their citizens on the road to the EU.The EIP also offers a path for a successful regional economic integration to help accelerate convergence with the EU and close the development gap between EU Member States and the Western Balkans region. The EIP will increase the competitiveness of the Western Balkans. Its implementation will have to be accompanied with the relevant reform measures.The Western Balkans Investment Framework members include the European Commission, member states, bilateral donors, financial institutions who altogether in partnership share the objectives of the Economic and Investment Plan for Western Balkans and together contribute to achieve common goals to spur the socio-economic cohesion of the region. In this context, the Western Balkans Investment Framework contributes to support the Team Europe Initiative.To achieve the aforementioned goals this action offers significant EU funding for the preparation and implementation of investment flagships in the areas of sustainable transport, clean energy, environment and climate, digital, innovation, competitiveness and private sector.The action includes 4 components:- Blending and technical assistance:1. EU4 Green and Digital Transition2. EU4 Green Growth3. EU4 Competitiveness and Innovation- Budgetary guarantee:4. Western Balkans Guarantee Facility (EFSD+ Guarantee and legacy ELM) in support of the 3 above components, the Sustainable Transport Connectivity action, and cutting across windows 3 and 4 of IPA III.