European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jörgensen on Thursday on the X platform he announced that with the Slovak prime minister With Robert Fico, they had “a good and open discussion about the energy situation and the wider consequences of ending the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine”. The Brussels correspondent TASR informs about it.
“We will continue to closely discuss these issues on a political and technical level with Slovakia and Ukraine,” stated Jörgensen on the X platform, essentially confirming Fico’s words from the press conference. Fico also mentioned the establishment of a working group, in which the interests of Slovakia will be represented by Minister of Economy Denisa Saková (Hlas-SD). On Thursday, the minister also participated in negotiations in Brussels with European Commissioner Jörgensen and representatives of the Directorate General of the European Commission for Energy.
Jörgensen emphasized in his statement that “while there is no problem with the security of gas supply for the EU”, with Fico at the bilateral meeting, he discussed the economic concerns of Slovakia and pointed out that together with the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic they had prepared a joint statement on this issue.
“We had a good and open discussion about the energy situation and the wider consequences of ending the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine. We will continue to closely discuss these issues on a political and technical level between Slovakia and the European Commission. In this context, we agreed to set up a high-level working group to monitor and identify options based on a joint assessment of the situation to see how the EU can help.” so reads the complete text of the joint statement by Commissioner Jörgensen and Prime Minister Fico.
In this context, the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic reminded that his government is ready 24 hours a day, seven days a week to “put all its energy into it”. Sakova reminded journalists in Brussels that during last year her ministry made every effort to ensure gas supplies via transit through Ukraine, and emphasized that her department does not lose hope.
“We want Slovaks and the Slovak industry to have enough energy at affordable prices. We are ready for this season and this year, we have enough gas in storage tanks, we have signed diversification contracts for gas supplies through various transit systems. No, we are not giving up, on the contrary, we will continue to negotiate, also at the level of the European Commission, with the Ukrainian side, and with other partners, so that gas supplies and transit through Ukraine are restored,” Sakova described the situation. She added that the restoration of gas supplies via this route it will also benefit other Central European countries.
She said that the Slovak side is ready to discuss this situation “at every possible meeting” starting next Monday.while “he will look for a solution that is beneficial for Ukraine, for Slovakia and for the entire Central European region”.
