Fico: Slovakia Seeks Guarantees Before Backing 18th Sanctions Package

Bratislava, 12 July (TASR) – Slovakia will attempt in the next 48 hours to reach an agreement with European officials on guarantees that would address the harmful consequences of the planned halt of Russian gas supplies to the EU starting in January 2028, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) declared at a press conference on Saturday. If such an agreement is reached, Slovakia is prepared to vote in favor of the 18th package of sanctions against Russia on Tuesday (15 July). The country has no objections to the content of the sanctions but is using the need for unanimity in this case to push for concessions on European Commission (EC) proposals that only require a qualified majority, said Fico. He added that negotiations are ongoing throughout the weekend. In this context, the Slovak Prime Minister spoke on Friday (11 July) with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and on Saturday morning with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. According to Fico, the latter conversation was "extremely tough," though he declined to provide any further details. Slovakia is expected to submit current proposals regarding the requested guarantees to allow further negotiations. These could involve issues such as future transit fees for gas imports. „In yesterday’s conversation with the Polish Prime Minister and today’s with the Chancellor, I said that we want to reach an agreement by Tuesday. We want to find some solutions. Until then, we will not agree to the eighteenth package," Fico explained. He acknowledged the EC’s efforts to find a solution but said these remain merely "in the realm of promises." Fico admitted that all parties involved are growing increasingly nervous. „I’m not a little boy for someone to think they can just stomp their foot and Slovakia will immediately do what’s expected. When it comes to Repowering, I want to see the EC’s position, and I want to see the positions of our EU partners that they understand Slovakia’s exceptional situation," he stressed. According to Fico, no country is as threatened by the planned halt of Russian gas as Slovakia, and everyone knows it. Slovakia, he said, will never vote in favor of such a proposal. However, the motion will likely be passed by qualified majority, with Slovakia about to be outvoted. Even though the full stoppage of Russian gas is planned for 2028, Fico said that "the decisive moment is now." „That’s why I hope we’ll be able to inform the public on Tuesday about the results of our negotiations. And if we decide to support the eighteenth sanctions package on Tuesday, it will be under the condition that at least some agreement was reached," he said. To politicians who might criticize him, he responded that this kind of political struggle cannot be won "100 to 0." „I’m speaking to both opposition and government politicians — if we want to be part of the European Union and NATO, we can’t automatically say no to everything. But as prime minister, I also guarantee that I won’t automatically say yes just to blend in," Fico added. Slovakia did not cause the current situation, and there is a sense of double standards in the approval of current proposals, noted Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD). „When sanctions on oil and petroleum products were negotiated in the sixth package, it was a unanimous decision. We see no reason why it should be different in the case of gas and other energy sources," he recalled. Nevertheless, Slovakia is approaching its EU partners constructively and predictably, Blanar said. „These are absolutely legitimate, sovereign demands of the Slovak government, which we're going to promote constructively," he added. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Richard Takac (Smer-SD) pointed out that a looming shortage and higher gas prices could have a very negative impact on Slovak farmers in the future. Many growers, livestock farmers, and processors in the agricultural sector rely on this energy source in their operations. „I can’t imagine what a sudden rise in prices after 2028 would mean for the agriculture sector, in terms of higher production costs and consequently increased food prices," Takac added. mf