Energy crisis and inflation, Government’s measures and possible European Commission support for their realization were in the focus of a meeting of Finance Minister Fatmir Besimi and European Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni in Brussels on Monday, MIA informs.
“As was the case during the pandemic, when we created and implemented sets of measures supporting healthcare, economy and vulnerable groups, which resulted in cutting the 2020 GDP contraction by 4.2 percent, we are also proactive with regards to the energy crisis,” said Minister Besimi.
He referred to the Government’s measures in the handling of the energy crisis and the Budget funds allocated as support for energy companies in order to ensure their liquidity but also indirectly preventing a hike of electricity prices on the regulated market, accompanied by the VAT rate cut to five percent, the Ministry of Finance said in a press release.
“Our mid-term priorities will focus on managing the effects of the health and energy crisis through enhancement of investments in supporting businesses, promotion and facilitation of the investment climate, new jobs through active employment measures, and support and development of micro, small and medium enterprises. This support will be realized through the formation of funds for development, innovation support, guarantee, private equity and similar facilities for support of export-oriented companies, SMEs and social enterprises,” said Besimi.
During the visit to Brussels, the FinMin is also set to meet with European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi, Acting Director-General of the Directorate General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) Maciej Popowski, and European Commissioner for Budget and Administration Johannes Hahn.
