Slovakia warns of worsening European gas crisis

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has warned that the gas situation in Europe will continue to deteriorate. He expressed concern that the European Union's move to phase out Russian gas will lead to abnormally high prices and increased dependency on non-EU nations, specifically mentioning the United States as a potential beneficiary.

Fico noted that while Slovakia has mechanisms to prevent domestic energy prices from skyrocketing in 2027, the country remains concerned about the EU's decision to ban Russian gas imports. He criticized the European Commission for bypassing the principle of unanimity to reach this decision. Under the current EU plan, a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas is set for January 1, 2027, with pipeline imports expected to cease by the autumn of that same year.

Slovakia has already filed a lawsuit with the EU Court regarding the import ban. Furthermore, Bratislava fears that abandoning Russian gas could trigger legal disputes with Gazprom due to existing contracts that remain valid until 2034.