Slovakia threatened to block new sanctions against Russia if the European Commission does not offer a solution to concerns about energy supplies, according to a statement by Prime Minister Robert Fico on Tuesday evening.
"The Slovak Republic will not support the planned 18th package of sanctions against the Russian Federation unless the European Commission provides a realistic solution to the crisis situation that Slovakia will face after the complete cessation of gas, oil and nuclear fuel supplies from Russia," Fico wrote on Facebook.
Slovakia, a neighbour of Ukraine and a member of the EU and NATO, is heavily dependent on Russian energy, and the halt of Russian gas flows through Ukraine has put severe pressure on supplies. Last week, the Slovak parliament passed a non-binding resolution calling on the government to oppose future sanctions, which MPs believe will damage the national economy.
Fico, a left-wing nationalist, has repeatedly and openly condemned the EU sanctions, which he believes hurt Slovakia more than Russia. So far, Slovakia has approved all sanctions against Russia.
In the run-up to the previous European summit in March, Slovakia had threatened not to support additional aid for Ukraine. In the end, Fico supported the conclusions on this issue after the addition of a passage on gas transit through Ukraine. The Commission, Ukraine and Slovakia were called upon to "step up their efforts to find workable solutions to the gas transit issue, taking into account Slovakia's concerns."
In 2022, Slovakia and Hungary were granted exemptions from the ban on oil imports from Russia.
Meanwhile, the Commission has presented its plans for a complete phase-out of Russian gas imports by the end of 2027, which Slovakia has already openly opposed.
Belgium, one of the largest importers of LNG in the EU via the port of Zeebrugge, is also questioning this, according to Politico. Belgium wants more information about the possible economic impact of the plans before making a decision.
On Wednesday, the European Commission declined to comment on the possibility of circumventing unanimity regarding the sanctions. "We are doing our homework and discussing with all Member States their interests and concerns and how they can be addressed," said the spokesperson for Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Paula Pinho.
Pinho added that since the start of the war, the Commission has been working "successfully" with Member States on phasing out imports of Russian fossil fuels, and legislation on phasing out gas will follow "soon."
Specifically regarding the Slovak complaints, the spokesperson said that it will be examined whether these are complaints "that have not yet been addressed in all the work already carried out to ensure that Member States are secure when it comes to energy security."
