Brussels, July 16 (LaPresse) – "Given the circumstances, I ask you to use the coming hours and days to continue the dialogue between the Slovak government and the European Commission, particularly in the interest of a clear interpretation of the commitments the Commission is making at a political level, as outlined in your letter of July 15, 2025. Until then, the Slovak Republic will request the postponement of the vote on the 18th package of sanctions."
This is what Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico wrote in a letter addressed to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
"I appreciate the efforts of the European Commission in offering the Slovak Republic solutions to the extremely negative impacts of the proposal to halt Russian gas supplies after January 1, 2028 (REPowerEU), and I thank you for your letter of July 15, 2025. The Slovak Republic will never support REPowerEU in terms of gas supplies, as it would harm Slovak households and the economy, further reducing the competitiveness of the entire European Union. By presenting this proposal, the Commission is grossly ignoring the political mandate approved by the European Council. My position as Prime Minister on this matter is consistent and should come as no surprise," Fico writes.
"I am fully aware that Slovakia cannot exercise its veto right over the REPowerEU proposal. However, we consider this proposal a sanction and therefore naturally link it to the 18th sanctions package proposed against the Russian Federation. We therefore expect that the vote on the 18th package can only take place once the substantial risks associated with REPowerEU in the gas supply sector from 2028 are resolved," he concludes.
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