Bratislava - Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has issued a statement confirming that Slovakia has requested a postponement of the vote on the 18th European Union (EU) sanctions package against Russia. He also called on the European Commission (EC) to grant an exemption that would allow the country to continue importing Russian gas under a contract with Gazprom until 2034.
Fico described the move as necessary to protect Slovakia's economic and national interests. However, he said, the EC refused the exemption, raising concerns about the country's energy security.
According to a statement published on the website of the Office of the Government of the Slovak Republic, Fico instructed the Slovak representative to propose a postponement of the vote on new sanctions at the EU meeting. "If sanctions are proposed that would threaten the economic and national interests of the Slovak Republic, we will not vote for them," said the Prime Minister. He stressed that the government had linked the approval of the 18th package of sanctions with the EC's proposal to stop importing Russian gas in order to strengthen the country's negotiating position. Without guarantees of gas supplies at affordable prices, he said, there was a risk of energy shortages, higher transit fees and a sharp rise in prices for households and industry.
Fico also published a document from EC President Ursula von der Leyen, which contains six measures to ensure gas supplies at fair prices. However, he considers these measures insufficient unless they include an exemption for the Gazprom contract. "The contract with Gazprom is valid until 2034, and failure to comply could lead to arbitration, which would result in significant financial losses," the Prime Minister warned.
Slovakia has long been dependent on Russian gas, which forms a key part of its energy mix. The contract with Gazprom ensures stable supplies at relatively affordable prices, which is crucial for the country's economy. Switching to alternative sources, such as LNG from the US or the Middle East, would significantly increase costs, according to experts. Moreover, Slovakia is an important transit country for Russian gas going to other European countries, which generates significant revenues from transit fees.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the EU has adopted several sanctions packages against Russia to limit its economic opportunities and war funding. However, these sanctions are causing tensions in countries such as Slovakia and Hungary, which are energy dependent on Russia. Fico criticised the EC's approach, saying that the sanctions must not jeopardise the living standards of citizens or the competitiveness of Slovak industry.
Fico's position is not surprising given his long-term policy, which emphasises national interests and a pragmatic approach to energy policy. However, the Slovak opposition criticises the prime minister for his actions weakening EU unity towards Russia. On the contrary, Fico argues that without an exception Slovakia would face economic risks, while other EU countries less dependent on Russian gas would not feel the impact of sanctions as strongly.
According to analysts, a delay in the vote could complicate negotiations in the EU, as sanctions require unanimous consent of all member states. Fico's linking of sanctions with the gas issue suggests an effort to use Slovakia's position to secure more favourable terms.
Vlada.sk/gnews.cz - GH
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