The European Commission's (EC) statement on the protection of critical energy infrastructure is significant as the EC begins to press Ukraine on the issue of gas transit. Prime Minister Robert Fico said this at Tuesday's meeting of the National Council (NC) committee on economic affairs. After Monday's EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, Juraj Blanár (both Smer-SD) also praised Kiev's willingness to transport non-Russian natural gas to Europe.
He pointed out that the EC statement expects third countries to respect the fact that this is an EU security issue. "This is a language Zelensky understands. He knows that if we stop all sanctions against Russia, he is in danger of not getting another euro from the EU," the Prime Minister added.
Slovak Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanár (Smer-SD) on Monday (27 January) welcomed the announcement by European diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas that the EC has supported Slovakia and Hungary in the protection of critical energy infrastructure, including gas pipelines running through Ukraine to Slovakia. He also praised Kiev's willingness to transport non-Russian natural gas to Europe following Monday's EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting.
Member of the Slovak Parliament for the opposition Progressive Slovakia Ivan Štefunko on Tuesday criticised the prime minister for not clarifying the reason for his trip to Moscow at a committee meeting. "He reiterated that the only obstacle to the gas deal is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In the end, he did not even come to Davos for the agreed meeting and publicly described him as an enemy. Such an approach to a politician whom he considers to be key to solving the economic problems of Slovakia and the EU is very unusual," He added.
On Thursday, 30 January 2025, Prime Minister Fico will meet in Brussels with representatives of the European Commission to discuss the suspension of gas transit to Slovakia.
After the meeting, at approximately 18.00, a press conference will be held, which will also be available on the FB profile of the Office of the Government of the Slovak Republic: https://www.facebook.com/UradVladySR/?locale=sk_SK
vlada.gov.sk/ TASR/ gnews - RoZ
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