Tirana, 27 October 2022 (MIA) — Direct budget support of EUR 80 million will be available to the Albanian government in January to address the impact of high energy prices, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen told a press conference Thursday held with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in Tirana. “In the European Union, we have decided that the only possible response [to the energy crisis] is unity and solidarity. As we are in this together, the response, together with Albania, is unity and solidarity," von der Leyen said. “We are in an Energy Union already. We are putting forward now an energy support package for the Western Balkans. We are doing the same in the European Union. It includes, first of all, direct budget support to address the impact of high energy prices that it has on families and businesses as you have said. There will be EUR 80 million of grants," she added. "The second part is not looking at the immediate support that will be accessible from January on. But the second part looks into the mid and long term – the support for the energy system: Here, we are talking about EUR 500 million in grants to invest in energy infrastructure for the whole region. “It is going to be channelled through the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans. And it is already at work here. Indeed, I saw the beginning of the railway that is being built. But for me, it is also very important that we invest in renewable energy. Because renewable energy is home-grown; it gives us independence; it creates good jobs here in the region; and it is good for the climate,” the EC President noted. According to her, the opening of negotiations with the EU was a success for Albania. “In July, you started the accession negotiations with the European Union," she recalled. "I was very glad to be with you in this historic moment. It was a touching moment, a very special moment. But let me repeat what I said at that time: It is your success. It is the result of many years of hard work done by Albania and the Albanian people. Years of patience, too,” von der Leyen said. “You have shown time and again your commitment to the values of the European Union. You are fully aligned with the European Union's response to Russia's brutal war of aggression. I must say it is exemplary how Albania has been actively defending the rules-based international order in the UN Security Council. I really thank you for this clear commitment. This honours you. It shows time and again that we are a community of shared values,” she said. Thanking the EC President for the support in dealing with the consequences of the catastrophic earthquake in Albania in November 2019, Prime Minister Rama told the press they had also discussed the summit between the EU and the Western Balkans to be held in Tirana on Dec. 6. Earlier on Thursday, Rama welcomed von der Leyen at Mother Teresa Airport in Tirana, after which the two delegations visited the construction site of the Tirana – Durres railway that is co-financed by the EU. After Skopje, Prishtina and Tirana, the EC President will visit Belgrade, Sarajevo and Podgorica, where she will end her Western Balkans tour on Saturday. mr/