Euronews: Slovakia Maintains Veto on New Package of EU Sanctions against Russia

Brussels, 9 July (TASR) - Slovakia has again blocked the 18th package of sanctions against Russia at the level of permanent ambassadors to the EU, TASR learnt from Euronews website. Its diplomatic sources say they remain hopeful that a compromise with the European Commission can be reached in the coming days. The government under the leadership of Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has repeatedly announced that it won't support the upcoming sanctions package unless it receives sufficient guarantees from the EC in relation to the RePowerEU initiative. This plan envisages a complete cut-off of Russian natural gas supplies to the European Union from 1 January 2028, which, according to Fico, would have a significantly negative economic impact on Slovakia. According to Euronews, the bilateral talks between Brussels and Bratislava have so far failed to produce the breakthrough needed to lift Robert Fico's veto exercised by the Slovak Republic on Wednesday during a meeting of ambassadors in Brussels. The sanctions package was resubmitted there for approval and was again blocked, the sources said. A new meeting of ambassadors is scheduled for Friday in anticipation of a meeting of foreign affairs ministers on Tuesday next week. Meanwhile Politico news website wrote that Slovakia is asking for assurances from the EC that Slovak companies won't be sued for breach of contracts with Russian firms, it also wants compensation for lost transit fees, and it wants the plan not to be approved with Slovakia's full support. If Brussels takes these concerns into account and provides the requested guarantees, Slovakia is ready to support the sanctions package, according to government officials. am