European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the G7's decision to release strategic oil reserves and discussed North Macedonia's EU accession process.
Key facts
- •The G7 will release 100 million barrels of diesel and crude oil to help stabilize energy markets.
- •The fuel release will occur over a four-month period, with significant diesel volumes expected within 20 days.
- •US oil prices dropped by as much as 5% following the announcement of the reserve release.
- •Foreign ministers from North Macedonia and Bulgaria are scheduled to meet in Sofia next week to discuss their bilateral dispute.
- •Prime Minister Mickoski stated that North Macedonia seeks EU assistance to ensure the accession process is not subject to new bilateral conditionalities.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has welcomed a G7 agreement to release 100 million barrels of diesel and crude oil from strategic reserves to stabilize global energy markets. Concurrently, during a meeting with North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, von der Leyen addressed the country's bilateral dispute with Bulgaria, announcing upcoming talks between the two nations' foreign ministers.
By the numbers
G7 Strategic Fuel Release
The G7 nations, in coordination with the International Energy Agency (IEA), plan to release 100 million barrels of diesel and crude oil over the next four months. The initiative aims to lower energy prices and prevent export bans among allies. While the specific breakdown of fuel types and participating countries remains undisclosed, officials noted that a significant portion of diesel will be released within the next 20 days. This follows a previous, larger emergency release of 400 million barrels coordinated by the IEA in March.
North Macedonia and Bulgaria Negotiations
Prime Minister Mickoski requested EU involvement in resolving North Macedonia's bilateral dispute with Bulgaria to ensure a sustainable accession process. While von der Leyen did not commit to direct EU participation in the negotiations, she confirmed that foreign ministers from both countries will meet in Sofia next week. The goal of this meeting is to initiate a process to unblock the accession path and build trust between the two sides.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Republika (North Macedonia), RTE News.
