EU Leaders Call for Energy Security and Market Unity, Slovakia Mentioned

Brussels, 27 June (TASR) - Strengthening Europe's competitiveness and further integration of the single market are key to maintaining the EU's prosperity and social model, according to the conclusions of the European Council approved by the leaders of the 27-member EU on Thursday (26 June) shortly before midnight, with a special mention of Slovakia included in the section on energy, TASR has learnt from its special correspondent. In the field of energy, the leaders emphasised the importance of establishing a genuine Energy Union by 2030 with a fully integrated and interconnected energy market. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) stated after the summit that one can't speak of a single energy market if energy prices in the eastern part of Europe are significantly higher than in the West. "These prices should be the same, but they aren't. There's pressure on the European Commission to resolve this issue," he remarked. One of the 32 conclusions on reducing energy dependence and boosting Europe’s strategic autonomy mentions Slovakia, highlighting the need for secure supply, accessibility, legal certainty, and viable alternative energy transit routes for landlocked countries. “The European Council calls on the Commission to support Member States in addressing these concerns, and welcomes the process agreed between the Commission and Slovakia, inviting other Member States to support the agreed objectives, as relevant,” the adopted document states. Fico added that during trade discussions, the leaders talked about relations with the USA and China, where the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, informed them about the EU’s plan for negotiations with the USA on tariffs, aiming to reach an agreement by 9 July. The leaders called for the removal of remaining barriers in the single market, particularly in services, goods, and rule enforcement, with special focus on challenges facing the automotive, shipping, aviation, and energy-intensive industries. lin