Slovakia’s president criticizes Brussels’ ‘imbecilic’ Russia plan
(MENAFN) Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico has harshly criticized the European Union’s plan to eliminate Russian energy imports by 2027, calling the initiative “imbecilic” and warning it threatens both Slovakia’s and the EU’s broader energy security.
The EU’s RePowerEU strategy aims to fully cut Russian oil and gas supplies to the bloc within three years. However, the proposal faces opposition not only from Slovakia but also from Hungary, Austria, and reportedly Italy.
In a Facebook video posted Monday, Fico declared that Slovakia’s fight to protect its energy security is nearing its conclusion, though he admitted Bratislava lacks the power to veto the plan. He accused the European Commission of crafting the proposal as trade legislation, not sanctions, to bypass unanimous consent and push it through with a qualified majority.
“The Commission’s proposal is, with all due respect, imbecilic and stems from an irrational obsession with Russia,” Fico stated, arguing the move would harm Slovakia’s economy and undermine the EU’s competitiveness as a whole.
In response to a letter from Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala urging Slovakia to back the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia, Fico insisted on Monday he would not give his approval until Slovakia receives firm guarantees that it will have adequate and affordable gas supplies after January 1, 2028.
Last Friday, Slovakia blocked the sanctions package for a second time, linking its objections to unresolved concerns over the RePowerEU plan.
Although Russian gas has not been explicitly banned by the EU, many member states have voluntarily reduced imports. Nevertheless, landlocked nations like Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, and the Czech Republic still depend on limited volumes through exemptions. Both Slovakia and Hungary continue to source much of their oil from Russia.
Russia, for its part, has warned that further targeting its energy exports will only drive up prices across Europe, worsening the EU’s already stagnant economic growth since 2022.
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