Foreign Ministry: Slovakia Voted against Regulation to Ban Russian Gas Imports

Bratislava/Brussels, 26 January (TASR) - Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Ministry State Secretary Marek Estok voted against a regulation aimed at gradually phasing out Russian gas imports and at improving monitoring of potential energy dependence, while also voicing fundamental reservations on behalf of Slovakia at a meeting of the EU General Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday, TASR has learnt from the ministry's communications department. The department added that the REPowerEU legislation was approved after receiving the required qualified majority of votes. "The Slovak Republic supports the joint European effort aimed at gradually reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels. In this effort, however, the specific geographical, infrastructural and economic aspects of the most affected member states, as well as existing legal constraints, must be properly taken into account," said Estok. He stated that Slovakia voted against the adoption of the REPowerEU regulation due to expected negative economic and financial impacts, as well as potential adverse effects on the security of gas supplies. As a landlocked country, Slovakia lacks direct access to LNG terminals, while there are still bottlenecks beyond its territory that restrict access to sufficient and affordable alternative gas supplies despite significant investments in interconnectors and infrastructure. In addition, Slovakia pointed to serious legal and financial risks arising from long-term gas supply contracts, while the regulation falls short of offering sufficient flexibility or effective tools for the most affected member states. Slovakia also voiced its concerns regarding the European Commission's plan to submit, by the end of 2027, draft legislation for a total ban on oil imports from Russia. According to Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD), this step must be thoroughly evaluated due to its impact on energy security, competitiveness and social stability. "We can't accept solutions that don't reflect the real possibilities and specific aspects of individual countries. Therefore, we'll appeal to the Court of Justice of the European Union and initiate proceedings aimed at abolishing the REPowerEU regulation concerning a ban on energy imports from Russia," announced Blanar, stressing that despite its opposing stance, Slovakia remains a constructive partner in Europe's energy policy. "We'll continue to actively promote solutions that strengthen the EU's energy security while at the same time ensuring a fair, realistic and socially sustainable transition for all member states, primarily those which are most vulnerable due to their infrastructure and geographical location," added Blanar. jrg/df