Bratislava (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On Wednesday, Prime Minister Robert Fico announced that Slovakia opposes the European Commission’s proposal to phase out Russian gas and other energy imports. He stated that these measures are “in this form unacceptable” to the Slovak government and would affect energy prices in the EU, Reuters reported.
Slovakia imports gas and oil from Russia and has been in dispute with Ukraine due to its decision last year to stop gas transit from the east. Fico raised concerns about the implications of Slovakia terminating its long-term contract with Russian supplier Gazprom.
What concerns does Fico have about phasing out Russian gas?
Fico acknowledged the importance of reducing energy reliance on external countries; however, he stated that the Commission’s proposals would negatively impact the EU by increasing prices within the bloc and harming its competitiveness.
“This is simply economic suicide to go to the point where neither gas, nor nuclear, nor oil, everything must end just because some new Iron Curtain is being built between the Western world and perhaps Russia and other countries,” Fico said. Slovakia would be effective for modifications to the legislative process, he stated.
How does the EU plan to phase out Russian gas by 2027?
According to Reuters, the EU’s executive branch announced on Tuesday that it will propose legal actions next month to gradually eliminate EU imports of Russian gas and liquefied natural gas by the end of 2027. The proposals also address oil and incorporate trade measures aimed at Russian-enriched uranium for nuclear energy, which would effectively impose a tax or levy on imports.
This action aligns with the EU’s commitment to sever its long-standing energy ties with Russia, the former leading gas supplier, following the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Will member states approve the proposed energy legislation?
The European Commission‘s legal proposals, expected in June, must receive approval from the European Parliament and a qualified majority of member states, which means that one or two countries cannot stop the initiatives.
How much Russian gas does Europe still import?
Currently, about 19% of Europe’s gas is sourced from Russia through the TurkStream pipeline and LNG shipments, a decrease from approximately 45% prior to 2022. According to Slovakia’s ministry, 10 out of the bloc’s 27 members imported Russian gas last year.
The EU has enacted sanctions on the majority of Russian oil imports; however, gas imports remain unaffected due to resistance from Slovakia and Hungary, who rely on Russian pipeline supplies and uphold stronger relations with Russia.
