The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced on Wednesday in Skopje, the first stop of the tour in the region, a financial aid of 500 million euros for the countries of the Western Balkans to overcome the energy crisis, reports AFP.

The amount will go “to the entire region for investment in what is necessary to achieve our independence” in the energy sector, Ursula von der Leyen said, without specifying the timing of the aid.

However, she mentioned investments in energy infrastructure.

The announcement comes at a time when energy prices are rising due to Russian aggression against Ukraine and the approach of winter.

North Macedonia will be able to count on budget support in the amount of 80 million euros starting in January, the president of the European Commission said.

The announcement is likely to ease the situation for countries in the region, as North Macedonia produces only two-thirds of the electricity it needs annually.

“The energy and economic crisis caused by the war in Ukraine united Europe. Only together can we face the shortage of energy and food,” said Prime Minister of North Macedonia Dimitar Kovačevski.

North Macedonia and most of the countries in the region are at various stages of negotiations on joining the EU.

Despite the length of this process, in some cases over a decade, the EU has repeatedly reiterated that the Western Balkans are part of the European family.

Experts warn that the slow pace of rapprochement with the EU has led to a rise in Euroscepticism in these countries, paving the way for increased Russian influence in the region.

Von der Leyen’s visit to Skopje on Wednesday was her second visit to North Macedonia this year. In July, he spoke to members of the parliament on the eve of the official opening of EU accession negotiations.

Ursula von der Leyen will also visit Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro and Albania as part of her tour of the region.