Brussels says it is grateful to the Western Balkan countries for backing EU sanctions on Russia, but does not say it plans to compensate for the damage that those countries could suffer as a result of this alignment with EU measures, “Politika” has learned.

Asked by Macedonian media whether the EU will in any way help the countries in the region with the new distributions due to the crisis in Ukraine, and especially to those whose economies may be affected due to joining the EU sanctions, Brussels said that the EU will continue to work together with the Western Balkans.

The European Commission said that the EU Foreign Minister, Josep Borrell, is currently visiting Macedonia and Albania, where he expressed gratitude for their 100% alignment with the EU foreign and security policy, including sanctions against Russia.

The High Representative expressed gratitude and presented the support we will give to these countries in the context of the conflict in Ukraine. The EU already has a significant investment program for the Western Balkans, which was formed before the invasion of Ukraine. This is the money that the EU is investing in this region, and here is the support we give during the pandemic. The EU stands by the countries of the Western Balkans and this visit is another proof of that, say the Commission.