EU Enlargement and Good Policy Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi has underlined Wednesday that the European Union will help the Balkans for independence from Russian energy.

In his speech from the General Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, where Prime Minister Edi Rama is also present, Varhelyi said that Albania and North Macedonia have taken important steps for their integration into the European Union. 

"The Balkans should be cut off from Russian energy. We will help the Balkans for independence from Russian energy. An important step has been taken, as far as Albania and North Macedonia are concerned. The screening process is proceeding at the right pace. Macedonia takes appropriate steps in the fight against corruption. 

Albania has continued to make good progress with good results, in terms of the judicial system and the advancement of the vetting system to fight corruption and organized crime", said Oliver Varhelyi during his speech.