The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, spoke about concrete measures before the start of the EU-Western Balkans summit in Tirana.

Von der Leyen said that the European Union has approved an energy aid package worth 500 million euros which will be used to support families and businesses in the Western Balkans to help the region overcome difficulties in these times of crisis.The president added that another agreement of 5 million euros has been approved, which will go directly to the infrastructure for clean energy and the energy of the future.

She revealed that today the discussions will focus on business issues, as well as the progress made by the countries of the Western Balkans on the path to EU membership.

“The European Union has approved an energy aid package worth 500 million euros which will be used to support families and businesses in the Western Balkans in order for the region to overcome energy difficulties in these times of crisis. We have also approved another package of 5 million euros, which will go directly to the infrastructure for clean energy, the energy of the future. Here we talk about photovoltaic parks, wind interconnectors. Today we will focus on business issues, as well as the progress made by the countries of the Western Balkans on the path to membership. I am glad that Bosnia and Herzegovina is progressing towards candidate status. It is nice that Albania and North Macedonia have opened membership negotiations. Membership depends only on the progress made by the candidate country, not on the years the process lasts,” said diplomat Ursula Von Der Leyen.

/A.S/