Brussels – Slovakia will prioritize the protection of farmers’ interests and cohesion policy in the preparation of the long-term budget for 2028 – 2034. This was declared by Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) following the conclusion of the two-day EU summit in Brussels, according to TASR.
Robert Fico reaffirmed Slovakia’s stance at the European Council meeting, emphasizing the need to safeguard farmers’ interests and to continue the cohesion policy, which he believes is essential for addressing regional disparities.
“We will have to make significant compromises; understanding among each other is crucial,” stated the Prime Minister. He noted that the proposed long-term budget amounts to 2,000 billion euros, leading to an expected substantial increase in contributions from net contributors, such as Germany, and even smaller countries like Malta. Some countries may face contribution increases of up to 60 percent, while others might see increases up to 100 percent.
“The compromise must involve discussions on how to source the funds necessary for the European Commission’s plans, as we are currently far from an agreement,” he explained. Although there are hopes for reaching an agreement on the multiannual financial framework (MFF) by the end of 2026, he expressed skepticism due to the numerous conflicting views. “This is a serious matter, and reaching an agreement will require significant compromise and respect for differing opinions,” he added.
During discussions on competitiveness, he echoed the sentiments of Slovak entrepreneurs, asserting that addressing energy prices is essential for discussing competitiveness, especially in light of stringent climate goals. “Without resolving this issue, we will not succeed. A case in point is Slovalco in Žiar nad Hronom, which closed because of unreasonable goals, resulting in the loss of 500 modern, ecological jobs and the production of 17% of the EU’s aluminum consumption. This closure was not our doing; it stemmed from EU mismanagement,” he said.
He mentioned that his government is in talks with the owners, an international group, to find solutions for the company, which exemplifies the dangers of liquidating an ecologically modern entity that provides a crucial strategic raw material for the EU. “My goal is to ensure that aluminum production continues in Slovakia, and we are exploring potential solutions; I refuse to close the door like the previous government did,” the Prime Minister concluded. (19 December)
“The compromise must consist in the fact that if we have some ambitions, then we must talk about where we will get the resources for everything that the European Commission has planned.” Robert Fico
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