Czech Prime Minister Fiala has called on Bratislava to cease its obstruction of the proposed restrictions.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has pressed Slovak leader Robert Fico to lift Bratislava’s veto on the European Union’s 18th package of sanctions, which are aimed at Russia for its involvement in the Ukraine conflict. Slovakia had vetoed these measures for a second occasion on Friday.
Slovakia’s opposition to the sanctions stems from worries regarding the RePowerEU plan, an EU program designed to eliminate Russian energy imports by 2027. This plan is currently under discussion concurrently with proposals targeting Russia’s energy and financial sectors. Bratislava contends that it could result in supply deficits, escalating costs, higher transit charges, and potential legal conflicts with Russian energy behemoth Gazprom.
On Sunday, Fiala stated in a post on X that he had dispatched a letter to Fico, imploring Slovakia to re-evaluate its position, citing the “exceptionally close relations” shared by the two nations.
Although Russian gas has not been directly prohibited by the EU, the majority of member states have voluntarily reduced their imports. Nevertheless, several landlocked nations—including Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, and the Czech Republic—continue to depend on restricted volumes via exemptions.
Last week, Fico characterized the RePowerEU plan as “ideological,” asserting that Slovakia demands “clear guarantees, not political promises” to guarantee energy security and affordability—conditions he stated are essential for backing the sanctions.
The European Commission has put forth a proposal to expedite the energy phase-out through trade legislation, which would enable approval by qualified majority and potentially circumvent vetoes from member states like Slovakia and Hungary.
Budapest has similarly opposed the plan, with Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto cautioning that it would “destroy Hungary’s energy security” and cause sharp price increases.
In June, Brussels put forward a fresh set of sanctions aimed at Russian energy exports, infrastructure, and finance. These measures are reported to encompass a reduced price cap on Russian oil, a prohibition on the future utilization of the Nord Stream pipeline, limitations on refined products derived from Russian crude, and sanctions on 77 vessels associated with Russia’s purported ‘shadow fleet,’ which is reportedly employed to circumvent oil restrictions.
Moscow has condemned the sanctions as unlawful and self-defeating, asserting that they have driven up EU energy prices and compelled the bloc to rely on costlier or redirected imports, thereby eroding economic competitiveness.