This policy brief, developed as part of research conducted during the Civil Society Forum in Tirana 2023—supported by the Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans, explores the transformative potential of the European Commission’s New Growth Plan for the Western Balkans (2024–2027) and provides actionable recommendations for overcoming key obstacles to its implementation. The brief examines the plan’s alignment with the region’s integration goals, focusing on its synergies with the Common Regional Market (CRM). By identifying barriers such as limited political will, low institutional capacity, and insufficient human capital, the paper offers insights into how the Western Balkans can effectively harness the plan’s opportunities to enhance regional and EU economic integration.