SaS: EU Wants to Help Slovakia in Spite of Fico, Not Because of Him

Bratislava, 15 July (TASR) – Slovakia is receiving support from the European Union not because of Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD), but despite him, said opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party leader Branislav Groehling on Tuesday. Groehling criticised Fico for failing to negotiate any real results and pushing the country into growing international isolation. The SaS leader was reacting to Fico's call on Monday (14 July) for political parties to respond to a proposal from the European Commission offering Slovakia guarantees regarding the phase-out of Russian gas supplies to the EU in exchange for its support of the 18th sanctions package against Russia. "Fico is now fighting with the EU like a student who doesn’t understand the curriculum - only making excuses and sending letters to the opposition at 7:30 p.m. to cover himself because he knows he's in trouble. He knows that he failed to negotiate anything and that he will have to vote for sanctions against Russia," stated Groehling at a press conference. According to SaS, the prime minister shared a confidential EC letter with political parties and asked for their feedback by Tuesday morning. Groehling rejected this approach, saying that SaS wouldn't take part in such shenanigans. "We don't have all the information. We weren't part of the talks. We weren't given the facts or details," he said, adding that if Fico had achieved something significant, he would have already presented it. Groehling called for the letter to be made public by the prime minister or the European Commission. He noted that the letter mainly confirms the EU's willingness to help Slovakia to transition away from Russian gas and toward alternative sources. It also mentions the formation of a working group. Groehling criticised Fico for conducting the talks behind closed doors while simultaneously publicly insulting European leaders, supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin and defending the Kremlin's economic interests. Groehling also accused Fico of fearmongering by claiming that Slovakia cannot survive without Russian gas - even though the main threat to gas supplies is Russia itself. Groehling pointed out that Slovakia currently has the second-highest gas prices in the EU. "Fico should have stated clearly that Russia is the aggressor, that his government won't support Putin's regime, and that he should have prepared Slovakia by cutting dependence on Russian gas in a way similar to how our neighbours have cut it," said Groehling. On Monday evening, Fico said that arguments over the telephone and tough negotiations with EU leaders were nearing completion and that a written proposal of guarantees from the European Commission was now on the table. The proposal was sent to leaders of all relevant political parties, with Fico requesting prompt responses from them. He didn't specify the contents of the guarantees. mf/df