Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia Agree to Share Surplus Energy, Food

BELGRADE (Reuters) - Three western Balkan states agreed to form a joint commission to help each other cope with the threat of energy and food shortages this winter due to ongoing crises amid the war in Ukraine, Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia said on Friday.

The western Balkans comprise Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Kosovo, all of which are aspiring to join the European Union.

All six countries are struggling to meet energy needs amid shortages due to the war in Ukraine.

At the Open Balkan initiative summit in Belgrade, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and the prime ministers of Albania and North Macedonia, Edi Rama and Dimitar Kovacevski, agreed to form a body that would help the three governments share surplus energy and food.

Everything ours will be available to North Macedonia and Albania and vice versa, Vucic told a news conference.

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Serbia almost entirely depends on imports of Russian gas and it generates around 70% of its electricity needs in its ageing coal-fired power plants.