Finance Minister Fatmir Besimi warned that the crisis in Ukraine could further increase the energy prices. Besimi is in Brussels where he discussed the crisis with commissioners Varhelyi, Hahn and Gentiloni, and presented the dire energy crisis in Macedonia that predated the latest escalation in Ukraine.

We set aside 5.2 billion denars to support the ELEM/ESM energy company. We reduced the VAT tax for electricity bills from 18 to 5 percent, to be incrеased to 10, and this also has fiscal implications. Add to that the energy credits of 1,000 denars a month to 35,000 poor households, the costs caused by high energy prices to the private sector and the sense of uncertainty, Besimi said, as he asked the EU to help find ways to support Macedonia in this difficult time.