05:41Germany: ‘Unprecedented crises demand unprecedented action’ – VdL announces €1 bln energy package for Western Balkans
German chancellor Olaf Scholz and President of European Commission Ursula von der Leyen along with Prime minister of Albania Edi Rama in Berlin on Friday commented on the EU accession of the Western Balkan states.
"The three new agreements now signed will make it possible for citizens of the region to travel with identity cards. In addition, the countries of the Western Balkans recognise academic and professional qualifications among themselves. Those are the very concrete steps that improve the lives of individuals and bring the region closer together," Scholz said.
Von der Leyen stressed the goal of 'deepening economic integration' while facing 'Russia's invasion of Ukraine, that marks a geopolitical shift'. EC President announced energy support package of one billion Euros that is planned to be delivered in two parts.
"The first part is 5 hundred million Euros in grants, as a very immediate financial support for the six Western Balkan countries. To put them in a position for the very short term to support vulnerable households and vulnerable businesses. This budget support will be adopted in December and available in January, in other words, very short-term. In the second part, the other five hundred million Euros in grants will be dedicated to investments in energy infrastructure," Von der Leyen explained.
In turn Edi Rama stressed the importance of the six Western Balkan nations' deal signing.
"The chancellor and his team really worked very hard together with our people, to convince everyone to sign, and it is great news that we had today three important signatures, [besides those] that we already had in the open Balkan framework. So, it is important that now everyone is included in this framework of the three agreements," he said.
Earlier prime ministers of six Western Balkan nations formally signed a deal on visa-free travel between Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
The deal, which was negotiated last month, allows travel with ID cards, ending the final 'visa wall' in the region between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. Two other deals covered mutual recognition of university and professional qualifications.
05:41German chancellor Olaf Scholz and President of European Commission Ursula von der Leyen along with Prime minister of Albania Edi Rama in Berlin on Friday commented on the EU accession of the Western Balkan states.
"The three new agreements now signed will make it possible for citizens of the region to travel with identity cards. In addition, the countries of the Western Balkans recognise academic and professional qualifications among themselves. Those are the very concrete steps that improve the lives of individuals and bring the region closer together," Scholz said.
Von der Leyen stressed the goal of 'deepening economic integration' while facing 'Russia's invasion of Ukraine, that marks a geopolitical shift'. EC President announced energy support package of one billion Euros that is planned to be delivered in two parts.
"The first part is 5 hundred million Euros in grants, as a very immediate financial support for the six Western Balkan countries. To put them in a position for the very short term to support vulnerable households and vulnerable businesses. This budget support will be adopted in December and available in January, in other words, very short-term. In the second part, the other five hundred million Euros in grants will be dedicated to investments in energy infrastructure," Von der Leyen explained.
In turn Edi Rama stressed the importance of the six Western Balkan nations' deal signing.
"The chancellor and his team really worked very hard together with our people, to convince everyone to sign, and it is great news that we had today three important signatures, [besides those] that we already had in the open Balkan framework. So, it is important that now everyone is included in this framework of the three agreements," he said.
Earlier prime ministers of six Western Balkan nations formally signed a deal on visa-free travel between Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
The deal, which was negotiated last month, allows travel with ID cards, ending the final 'visa wall' in the region between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. Two other deals covered mutual recognition of university and professional qualifications.