Blanar: Ministries Assessing Impact of 18th Package of Anti-Russian Sanctions

Bratislava, 12 June (TASR) - The 18th package of sanctions against Russia is currently being examined by all relevant ministries, said Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) during Question Time in Parliament on Thursday. According to Blanar, the ministries are examining whether the measures will have a negative impact on Slovakia's economy and living standards. If everything goes smoothly, the conclusions should be prepared on Friday (13 June). The minister said that all measures of the 18th package will be thoroughly assessed and dealt with in line with the protection of Slovakia's national interests. Blanar also drew attention to the European Commission's proposal called RePower EU, which aims to end dependence on Russian fossil fuels. According to him, adopting this proposal would have catastrophic consequences not only for Slovakia, but also for the competitiveness of the European Union as such. "I think that although we are an EU member, the Slovak government has a sovereign right to defend the country's national interests. And if these are threatened by any measures that could come from the EU level, it is the government's duty to defend our interests," stated the minister. Blanar pointed to what he called the huge damage that might occur if RePower EU is adopted. The potential arbitration alone would amount to billions of euros. He noted that Slovakia has signed a contract for Russian gas imports until 2034. Furthermore, the adoption of RePower EU should be decided by a qualified majority, not by the consensus of all member states. "They will simply outvote us with a qualified majority, and we will be able to do absolutely nothing about it. That's why our position is absolutely clear. We are ready to negotiate, we want to be listened to, and we will ask that the 18th package should be postponed until a decision on RePower EU is made," added Blanar. ko/df