Strasbourg – On Wednesday, members of the European Parliament (EP) have approved the initiation of negotiations with EU member states regarding the prohibition of Russian gas and oil imports into the Union. Slovak MEPs from various political factions shared their views on this matter for TASR.
EP Vice-President Martin Hojsík (RE/PS) emphasized the necessity for the EU to lessen its reliance on gas and to increase the use of green energy. He noted that the costs of Russian gas are impacting the Slovak industry and should be substituted. He argued against purchasing from a regime that funds the war in Ukraine and has historically used gas supplies to blackmail Europe. “Claims that it is unfeasible due to insufficient connections are unfounded. There is a pipeline to Poland, financed by European funds, capable of supplying Slovakia’s entire gas needs,” he asserted.
Katarína Roth Neveďalová (independent/Smer-SD) opposed the prohibition on importing Russian gas and nuclear fuel, cautioning that such a ban could threaten Slovakia’s energy security and electricity self-sufficiency. “While we have arranged diversification through contracts and partnerships with various countries, halting gas transit could lead to a half-billion euro loss in the state budget,” she stated. She claimed that the EU’s energy commitments to the USA result in a shift from dependence on Russian energy to reliance on American liquefied gas.
Miriam Lexmann (EPP/KDH) argued that the Union should not finance the Russian war effort through energy payments. She highlighted Hungary’s initiatives to move away from Russian gas by purchasing non-Russian LNG and questioned the actions of the Slovak government during this challenging time. “This will reveal Robert Fico’s leadership qualities and his negotiation skills for Slovakia to ensure we separate from Russian energy without negatively impacting Slovak citizens,” she remarked.
Ľubica Karvašová (RE/PS) noted her presence when EP committees proposed a quicker cessation of Russian energy imports than the European Commission and member states wish, targeting long-term contracts by January 1, 2027. She asserted that discussions on ending dependency on Russian gas have been ongoing since 2022, and there’s no reason for delay, especially as Russia escalates its military actions in Ukraine. She highlighted that the EP’s negotiations now include a ban on oil imports and reminded MEPs of the political commitment to eliminate nuclear fuel imports from Russia. “The aim is to avoid reliance on trade relationships that render us vulnerable to price manipulations or influence regarding the war in Ukraine,” she conveyed.
Branislav Ondruš (independent/Hlas-SD) pointed out the differing perspectives of the EP and member states on this proposal. He criticized it as “selfish,” neglecting the positions of countries like Slovakia, which are at the tail end of gas and oil pipelines, leading to increased expenses when importing energy. He noted that transporting oil through Croatia could raise costs by one hundred million euros compared to transit through Ukraine. He further argued that the proposal undermines the EU’s climate objectives, as the importation of American LNG via tankers would surpass the emissions savings aimed for under the ETS 1 and ETS 2 frameworks, replacing dependence on Russia with reliance on the United States. (October 22)
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