MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Sunday, 13 July 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Saturday, 12 July): BRATISLAVA – 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. BRATISLAVA – Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) responded aggressively on Saturday to growing calls from Slovakia’s European partners for energy independence from Russia, and in response, Ivan Stefunko, vice-chair of the opposition's Progressive Slovakia (PS), emphasized that a sovereign country does not negotiate in isolation and aggression but with prudence, dignity, and respect for its partners. „Slovakia currently has the most expensive gas in the region, while the neighboring Czech Republic secured cheaper supplies in time from alternative sources. The Czechs know how to negotiate. We have a nervous Prime Minister who's been in power for 15 years and now acts surprised. The result? Slovaks are paying more and businesses are losing competitiveness,” Stefunko said. PS vice-chair Tomas Valasek added that sovereignty does not mean isolation but the ability to cooperate with allies. According to him, the Prime Minister is consciously pushing Slovakia into isolation. „On the day we celebrate the anniversary of our sovereignty, we must ask: is this what responsible governance looks like? Quarreling with partners, blackmailing the European Union, and cozying up to Moscow? Slovakia deserves a government that knows how to negotiate — not shout. One that defends its interests wisely, not through threats,” Valasek said. He also accused Fico of spreading falsehoods about the effects of sanctions on Russia. „The truth is, the Russian economy is on the brink of recession. This is confirmed by Russia’s own economy minister, along with data on record inflation and Gazprom’s losses,” he added. Beata Jurik, vice-chair of the House Committee on European Affairs (PS), expressed her view that Slovakia is becoming “disgrace of Europe.” „The German Chancellor and Lithuanian Foreign Minister have openly spoken of Slovakia’s blackmail. These are not words from the opposition — they are coming from our partners. The Prime Minister has offered no clear demands or proposals — only chaos, delays, and conflict. This is not how Slovakia’s interests should be defended,” she stated. Jurik also pointed out that a proposal aimed at helping Slovakia manage its energy transition has been on the table since 2022. „Where has the Prime Minister been until now? Suddenly he wakes up when it’s time to block more sanctions against Russia. If he truly cared about Slovakia, he would have negotiated long ago. Now he cares only about Russia — that’s why he’s blocking it,” Jurík concluded. BRATISLAVA - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) is facing mounting criticism from European partners for refusing to support the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia, and on Saturday, he and other ministers from his party attempted to justify the stance by citing concerns over Russian gas supplies and claiming the move will help secure lower gas prices for consumers - but those claims are false, opposition MP Julius Jakab ('Slovakia' party) said on the same day. „In reality, Slovak companies are paying the highest gas prices in Europe when measured without taxes and fees, and adjusted for purchasing power parity,” Jakab explained. „Without taxes and fees, Slovak firms pay the second-highest gas prices in Europe after Sweden. Once taxes and fees are included, Slovakia ranks among the top five most expensive countries — at levels comparable to Germany.” According to Jakab, countries that have already cut ties with Russian gas have demonstrably cheaper energy prices. He characterized Saturday’s press conference by the Prime Minister as a panic-driven attempt to spread misinformation and cover up what he called the government’s open collaboration with Russia. „Robert Fico also warns of a potential legal dispute with Russia over failing to take gas deliveries after 2028, which he claims could cost Slovakia €16 billion. Yet just last month, Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar and Economy Minister Denisa Sakova publicly stated that Russia was already failing to meet its contractual gas delivery obligations. Despite this, no lawsuit has been filed against Gazprom, and the government shows no interest in recovering the billions Slovakia might be entitled to,” Jakab added. mf