Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Thursday that Slovakia will not support a new European Union sanctions package on Russia. Instead, he will push for a delay in the vote until Slovakia’s concerns over gas supplies after 2027 are addressed.
On 10 June, the European Commission proposed a new set of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, which took place over three years ago, aimed at reducing Moscow’s energy revenues, banks, and military industry.
Both Slovakia and Hungary have opposed the sanctions, disagreeing with the Commission’s proposals to phase out Russian energy imports by the end of 2027, which would leave them with no choice but to seek alternatives. European diplomats have stated they anticipate the issue will be settled at the summit.
What concerns does Fico have about energy security?
Mr Fico reiterated his stance that the new sanctions could result in supply shortages and price hikes, as well as up to 20 billion euros ($23.4 billion) in losses from arbitration for breaching a long-term contract with Russian supplier Gazprom. He said he would support the summit’s conclusions, but he still wouldn’t agree to the sanctions at this point.
“Tomorrow, Slovakia will not vote on the 18th sanctions package,”
He told a parliamentary committee on Thursday before he left for the summit.
“We consider it to be one package with (the end of imports plan), and until fundamental issues are resolved, we cannot adopt further sanctions.”
Mr Fico met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday, but it is unclear if this changed his stance.
Can Poland convince Slovakia to support the sanctions?
However, Polish European Affairs Minister Adam Szlapka stated at the summit that he hoped Slovakia and Hungary could be persuaded to join in, as they had in the past.
“As in the previous sanction packages, I am optimistic here, we are working on it,”
He said.
“I hope that it will be possible to close it by the end of the (EU) Polish presidency, and as we know, there are four days left.”
What happens if there’s no unanimous sanctions agreement?
Sanctions proposals need unanimous agreement within the bloc to be adopted. Hungary has often threatened to block its approval during talks on Ukraine aid and sanctions renewals, which happen every six months.
