Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Robert Fico informed on Thursday evening that he will give instructions to the representatives of the Slovak Republic to the European Union to release the way to the 18th package of anti -Russian sanctions on Friday. According to Fico, it would be counterproductive to continue blocking another penalty package, as all the possibilities of negotiations with the European Commission are exhausted for the time being, and staying in the current position would endanger the interests of the Slovak Republic. The Prime Minister said this in the video on Facebook, TASR informs.
The Prime Minister said that Slovak representatives 18. The penalty package vetoed six times. In his words, the Slovak Republic has written obligations of the European Commission (EC) signed by its chairman Urusla von Der Leyen and the College of Commissioners.
Gas -related guarantees
“Confirmed guarantees by the EU concern the price of gas and its possible shortage, transport fees, as well as the possibility of provoking a crisis situation at extremely high prices and a lack of gas that would lead to crisis solutions to the abolition of the ban on importing Russian gas,” Fico explained.
The Slovak Republic also discussed the use of EU funds to compensate for the high prices of natural gas, as well as the full EC participation in the eventual arbitration with the Russian Gazprom for not fulfilling the obligations of the current gas supply contract, which is valid until 2034.
The attitude of Slovakia to gas supplies
However, Fico has re -declared that the SR will never support the stopping of Russian gas supplies to the EU since 2027. According to him, the proposal will damage the competitiveness of the EU and will damage Slovakia, which will vote against, even if it cannot veto it.
Despite the fact that the Slovak Republic will no longer venture a 18th package of sanctions, according to Fico, immediately after Friday’s vote, “the second stage of the fight for Russian gas will begin”. He explained that the Slovak Republic has an approved plan for promoting Slovak national national interests, created an action team responsible for achieving the offered guarantees, as well as strict control mechanisms.
In the event that these steps failed, Fico warned that the EC is also working on the 19th Package, which will require the consent of the Slovak Republic.
