Sticking point gas supplies: is Fico's blockade justified?
Slovakia is blocking the adoption of the 18th EU sanctions package against Russia. It foresees a halt to Russian gas supplies from the end of 2027, to which Slovakia cannot agree without substantial compensation from Brussels, the country's Prime Minister Robert Fico insists. The move has sparked controversy even among commentators in his own country.
Slovakia needs guarantees from Brussels
Fico's position is understandable, Pravda puts in:
“If gas supplies from Russia end in 2027, what guarantees do we have that the Russian giant will not demand compensation from Slovakia for breach of contract? How much will a legal dispute cost us? ... Brussels should give Slovakia clear guarantees that it will help in an emergency and not leave us in the lurch. ... Slovakia is not located by the sea and cannot obtain liquefied gas on its own. Whereas until recently our state budget collected significant revenues through transport fees, now we're paying fees to other countries. ... Unlike Germany, Denmark or the Netherlands, Slovakia is not an economically strong country. Expensive gas therefore has a far more negative impact.”
It should have sought alternatives
For Aktuality.sk Slovakia is to blame for the dilemma because it didn't do its homework:
“While the Czech and Austrian governments, which also had to face the problem of heavy dependence on Russian gas supplies, worked hard to make changes and negotiated new gas supply contracts within the space of two years, as well as agreeing on capacities for gas pipelines and LNG terminals, the Slovak government failed to do this. It remained obsessed with the idea that the Russian gas supplies would continue to flow.”