Brussels – The primary focus of Thursday’s talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was the REPowerEU legislative package, as emphasized by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) during the ongoing EU summit in Brussels, according to TASR.
Fico confirmed a meeting with the EC President prior to the European Council session, mainly discussing the legislative proposal that seeks to ban the import of Russian gas to all EU member states starting January 1, 2028.
“This proposal will adversely affect gas prices in Slovakia for both households and industry, and will likely diminish the competitiveness of the entire EU, particularly for Slovakia, which has a significant automotive manufacturing sector contributing to the GDP,” the Prime Minister noted. He pointed out Slovakia’s specific mention in the summit conclusions, indicating the EC’s awareness of the potential impacts of this proposal starting January 1, 2028.
He mentioned that the only supporters of this “ideological and detrimental” proposal from the Eurocommission appear to be the Slovak opposition and “anti-government” media.
“I appreciate our constructive and pragmatic dialogue with the President of the European Commission, who fully recognizes the repercussions of this decision for countries like Slovakia and Hungary. We managed to concentrate on four or five key issues that are critically important to us,” he stated. He cautioned that the EC is likely to advocate for this proposal, which will be decided by qualified majority, resulting in Slovakia relying on other sources for gas supply – from the north, south, and west – with significantly higher transit fees.
Consequently, he discussed with the EC President the possibility of ensuring that gas transiting to Slovakia via various countries maintains the same transit fee currently paid. They also examined gas pricing concerns, as the likelihood of a price increase after stopping Russian supplies could see household gas costs rise by 30 to 50%. They broached the subject of compensation for the potential increase in gas prices affecting Slovak households and industries. Similarly, they talked about the possibility of a lawsuit by Gazprom against Slovakia, stemming from a gas supply agreement in place until 2034. Fico emphasized that this contract operates on a “take or pay” principle, which means Gazprom could sue Slovakia, with lawsuit costs ranging from 16 to 20 billion euros.
“We asked, what if we lose such a court case, who will pay us those 16 or 20 billion euros?”
“We asked, what if we lose such a court case, who will pay us those 16 or 20 billion euros? These inquiries remain unanswered by the European Commission, so I commend the constructive approach of the President and the entire European Commission,” Fico remarked.
He elaborated that a special EC mission is expected to visit Slovakia next week, which, he believes, will also engage with Slovak businesses and consumer protection associations. Fico suggested the possibility that the EC may lack a mandate for such legislation, noting that a 2022 resolution adopted in Versailles referred to gradually phasing out or decreasing dependence on Russian gas rather than a complete ban on supplies.
“Our position is that we cannot support such a legislative act (…) unless there is an agreement with the European Commission providing compensation for any damages incurred,” the Prime Minister asserted. He added that if the EU does not address this proposal and until the fundamental issue is resolved, the Slovak ambassador to the EU has clear instructions to veto the 18th EU sanctions package. (June 26)
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