BRUSSELS - The European Union has once again failed to adopt the 18th package of sanctions against Russia, as Slovakia, led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, vetoed the proposal. The main reason is Fico's demand for guarantees from the European Commission (EC) that would allow Slovakia to continue importing Russian gas under a contract with Gazprom until 2034. In addition to Slovakia, Malta also opposed the sanctions, citing its own reservations.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is facing increasing pressure to find a compromise, while the opposition in Slovakia is criticizing Fico for weakening the country's position within the EU.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico reiterated that he will not support sanctions that include an exemption for Russian gas imports. According to his statement to the newspaper Pravda, the EU's plan to end Russian gas imports by 2027 would increase energy prices by 30-50% and severely damage the Slovakian economy. "The EC's proposal is idiotic and undermines the competitiveness of the EU," Fico said.

Slovakia faces the risk of an arbitration claim from Gazprom, which could cost up to 20 billion euros, and the loss of transit fees for transporting gas. Fico threatened to delay the vote on the sanctions until the EC offers concrete guarantees. In a video statement, he accused the Slovakian opposition of undermining his negotiating position and called on the EC to "sort out its favorites."

The European Commission is trying to de-escalate the situation. Ursula von der Leyen sent a letter to Fico offering six measures, including support for the transition to alternative energy sources and compensation for the loss of transit fees, according to the news website Euronews. Von der Leyen emphasized that the proposals take into account national specificities, but Fico called them insufficient.

The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, expressed disappointment today over the failure of the negotiations and stated to Reuters that "Russia does not want peace, and therefore we must increase the pressure." Further negotiations are scheduled for Friday, but according to Reuters sources, Hungary also remains skeptical, which increases the risk of further delays.

In Slovakia, Fico's stance is causing strong reactions. Opposition parties KDH and SaS accuse him of "serving Moscow" and weakening the country's position within the EU. "Fico is putting Slovakia in the same position as Hungary," said Member of Parliament Vladimíra Marcinková to the newspaper SME. Slovak MEP Milan Uhrik even called von der Leyen a "destroyer of European economies" because of her REPowerEU plan, which promotes a shift away from Russian energy, according to the website Pravda.

The proposed sanctions, including a ban on using the Nord Stream pipeline and a reduction in the price cap on Russian oil from $60 to $47 per barrel, are intended to weaken Russian revenues, which have fallen by 20.3% since 2022, according to the website Consilium. Critics warn, however, that the sanctions could harm European economies more, especially countries that are dependent on Russian energy.

Malta's Reservations Regarding Sanctions

In addition to Slovakia, Malta is also blocking the sanctions, as it disagrees with the reduction in the price cap on Russian oil. This "floating mechanism," which sets the price 15% below market value, would threaten Malta's shipping industry, which is crucial to the country's economy, according to the website Politico.

Malta, as a major maritime hub, is concerned about losses in the shipping sector, which benefits from global trade in energy. The country does not object to the sanctions in general, but is demanding exemptions to protect its economic interests.

The meeting of EU leaders in Brussels today ended without a breakthrough. Slovakia and Malta are sticking to their demands, while Ursula von der Leyen is seeking a way to balance the pressure on Russia with the economic interests of the member states. Fico's rhetoric and Malta's resistance suggest that the approval of the 18th sanctions package may still be a long way off, which is increasing tensions both within the EU and domestically in Slovakia.

gnews.cz - GH