Bratislava – Members of the opposition party Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) criticize the outcomes of the meeting between Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) and representatives of the European Commission (EC), which took place on Thursday in Brussels concerning the halted deliveries of Russian gas through Ukraine. According to SaS, the government had enough time to secure alternative supply routes to the Slovak Republic, and if reciprocal measures against Ukraine were adopted, only Slovakia would suffer, states the stance of the opposition party as reported by TASR.
“It is utterly inconceivable that a day before this meeting, before meeting with the EU Commissioner for Energy, Robert Fico said that Russia is a reliable partner,” said party leader Branislav Gröhling, who believes that the Prime Minister is influenced by Moscow’s rhetoric when advocating views before the European Commission.
The party’s energy spokesperson Karol Galek further highlighted the fact that in the event of a halt to the transit of Russian oil to our territory, Ukraine did not unilaterally withdraw from the contract, but the five-year agreement between the countries was duly terminated. According to him, the government’s priority should have been to secure different gas supply routes to Slovakia before the agreement’s expiration at the end of 2024.
Regarding the Prime Minister’s proposed reciprocal measure in the form of stopping electricity supplies to Ukraine, Galek said that Slovak residents would be most affected in this case. “If electricity stops flowing through Slovakia to Ukraine, then electricity for Slovaks will become more expensive. I say this with full seriousness,” he emphasized.
Supplying electricity to Ukraine, according to him, benefits Slovak producers and the Slovak Electricity and Transmission System (SEPS). “If we lose these capacities, we will not only lose the finances from these capacities but also have to compensate the suppliers to whom these capacities were sold,” Galek explained. (January 9)
“It is utterly inconceivable that a day before this meeting, before meeting with the EU Commissioner for Energy, Robert Fico said that Russia is a reliable partner.” Branislav Gröhling
