The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, revealed from Tirana the economic aid package that the European Union has provided for the Western Balkans to cope with the energy crisis and the consequences of the war in Ukraine. During the joint press conference with Prime Minister Edi Rama and European Council President Charles Michel, von Der Leyen stated that the aid package for the region will be 1 billion euros, where 500 million will go as budget aid to help families and businesses to the increase in the price of energy, while another 500 million will go to improve infrastructure and green energy. 

"Our support for the region comes from the heart and we believe that we should work together. We want to live life together. A very clear message of this summit is of being together. A partnership summit with deep and clear conversations. A major topic we discussed is facing the challenges of war and its consequences in the energy sector. We face this challenge together. Everything that we will do in the EU will also be reflected in the European Union. Therefore, this 1 billion euro package is divided into two parts: 500 million of budget aid that will go as aid to businesses and families, and another 500 million of euros will go towards infrastructure and green energy. Green energy also brings new jobs and removes energy dependence from other countries. 

In addition to energy, we also have a broader framework that you have heard in the field of transport and water supply. We approved 40 important projects yesterday and this investment plan is moving in the right direction. 

We wholeheartedly support the integration process, we have seen a lot of progress this year, we have seen the first intergovernmental conference with Albania and North Macedonia. 

In addition to this progress, of course, there is also an issue related to economic integration, and I congratulate you on the progress made in recent months", said von Der Leyen.