KDH Doesn't Understand Why Agreement with US Was Signed Only Now

Bratislava, 18 January (TASR) - The opposition Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) doesn't understand why the Slovak-US inter-governmental agreement on cooperation in the field of civil nuclear energy was signed only now, if it was allegedly prepared for signing back in July. "Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) signed with USA an inter-governmental agreement that is a prerequisite for preparing a contract for the implementation of the project to build a new nuclear power unit in the Jaslovske Bohunice location. This is very good news for Slovakia's energy security, but why is the agreement being signed only now, if it was prepared, according to Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD), already in July 2025?" KDH has asked on a social network. KDH opines that Fico wanted to have a photo with US President Donald Trump and took the agreement hostage. "However, in the world of energy, a cruel fight is currently unfolding over the deadlines for the production of key components, such as reactor pressure vessels, steam generators or turbines, where literally every single day matters. Slovakia has lost half a year due to Robert Fico's vanity. This could be a fatal delay for the ambitious date of launching the power plant in 2040, and Slovakia could lose its energy self-sufficiency after the expected shutdown of the Bohunice V2 power plant," stated KDH. The premier was also criticised in this connection by opposition MP and 'For the People' party leader Veronika Remisova. She lambasted him for holding talks with Trump at a time when the US president was threatening to impose tariffs on countries that don't support his plan regarding Greenland. "There could have been no greater proof of Fico's loss of judgment in foreign policy. He is taking pictures with Donald Trump at the very moment when he is declaring a tariff war against our key partners in the European Union with the aim of plundering Greenland. This conflict will also directly threaten Slovakia's industry and jobs, but our quasi-sovereign in all four cardinal directions obviously failed to even hint at defending our interests before Trump," she said. U.S. Secretary of Energy Christopher A. Wright and Slovak Premier Fico signed an agreement to advance cooperation on Slovakia’s civil nuclear power programme in Washington on Friday (16 January). Fico said that Slovakia will be an exceptional country thanks to the agreement with the USA, since it will have experience with both Russian and US technologies in the field of civil nuclear energy. According to the premier, the agreement opens the door to negotiations on the supply of US nuclear technology to Slovakia with the aim of building and putting into operation in 2040-2041 a completely new nuclear power unit with an output of 1,200 MWh in premises of the current nuclear power station in Jaslovske Bohunice. ko