Czech Premier Fiala Rejects Fico's Call for Joint Government Session

Prague, 14 July (TASR) - Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala rejected Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s request to resume joint meetings between the Czech and Slovak governments, saying that cooperation at the ministerial level is sufficient, TASR has learnt from a report from Czech broadcaster CT24. Fiala also rejected the claim that he was interfering in Slovakia’s internal affairs by calling on Fico not to block the EU’s 18th package of sanctions against Russia. Fico asked his Czech counterpart in a letter sent on Monday to respect Slovakia’s "national state interests" in its effort to secure guarantees for sufficient natural gas at reasonable prices even after 2028, and also proposed holding a joint meeting of the Slovak and Czech governments in the near future. "We have combined the draft 18th sanctions package with the European Commission's proposal to halt any supplies of Russian gas as of 1 January 2028, and we ask the relevant players to provide Slovakia with the necessary guarantees that the Slovak Republic will have enough gas at reasonable prices even after 1 January 2028. This is in Slovakia's national state interests. I ask you to respect that," Fico wrote to the Czech premier. Fico also pointed out that he shares Fiala's opinion on the close relationship between the Slovak and Czech Republics. "The best answer to pointless nervousness in the international arena would be a joint session of the Slovak and Czech governments, for which I invite you to the territory of Slovakia as soon as possible," added Fico. Fiala on Saturday (12 July) called on Fico not to block the EU's 18th package of sanctions against Russia. „Given the exceptionally close ties between our countries, I'm asking Slovakia to reconsider its stance on the 18th sanctions package and to help to preserve the unity and determination with which the democratic world is confronting Russian aggression,“ wrote Fiala. lin