The UK Foreign Secretary will on Monday announce that his government will donate £10 million (EUR 11.33 million) to help build digital skills and employment prospects for young people in the Western Balkans, a government statement said.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is to make the announcement at the Western Balkans Summit in London, which brings together top officials of six Western Balkan countries, European institutions’ representatives and top officials of nine EU member-states.

The three-year funding will go towards training children in 4,500 schools “to bolster digital literacy and core skills across the region”.

“By providing access to a digital education, this funding will help foster the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs, both in the Western Balkans and UK,” the UK Government said.  

The country will also provide an additional £1 million (EUR 1.13 million) to “help the region address difficult legacy issues of the past, this includes working to find and identify the 12,000 victims still missing from the conflicts of the 1990s.”

“This new funding demonstrates the UK’s enduring commitment to the Western Balkans region.We are working internationally to provide young people, particularly young women, with the digital skills necessary to participate in the future economy and fulfil their potential,” Johnson said ahead of the Summit.