Hanging Up the 18th EU Sanctions Against Russia: Slovakia's Gas Woes
Slovakia Postpones 18th EU Financial Penalties Against Russia
rage at the state of play, guys! The EU's 18th round of sanctions against Russia is hanging in the balance thanks to Slovakia's Prime Minister, Robert Fico. At the Brussels summit, Fico made it plain that he'd only give the go-ahead if the EU Commission offered guarantees to keep Slovakia's gas pipeline flowing past 2027. With the other 26 leaders unable to give the thumbs-up without unanimous consent, next week's ambassador-level meeting's the likely spot for a decision.
Originally, the EU Commission put forth a new round of sanctions against Russia, all due to the invasion of Ukraine way back in 2014. These sanctions were aimed at putting the squeeze on Russia's energy revenues, banks, and military sector. Fico had stated that he'd backing the summit's conclusions regarding Ukraine, but not yet the sanctions themselves.
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, hopped on board for the summit and called for a show of strong support from the EU. In a unanimously approved statement, the EU slammed the ongoing Russian bombardment of civilians and civilian infrastructure, demanding a ceasefire from Russia immediately, without preconditions. The EU also plans to beef up its military aid to Ukraine, keen on supplying air defense and drone defense systems, as well as large-caliber ammunition.
So, where's the beef, you ask? Well, Slovakia fears that banning Russian gas could cause shortages, price spikes, and steep financial losses due to breaches of long-term contracts with Gazprom. Fico's estimating damages of up to 20 billion euros if Slovakia has to leave Gazprom in the dust. Slovakia and Hungary are holding out against the Commission's goal of ditching Russian energy sources entirely by 2027. They want guarantees that the transitions will be smooth, catastrophic supply disruptions will be avoided, and they won't have to cough up hefty arbitration fees for breaking contracts.
Sources: ntv.de, rts
The ongoing standoff within the EU over the 18th round of sanctions against Russia, initially imposed due to the conflict in Ukraine, has rekindled discussions on community and health policies relative to energy security. Meanwhile, the political implications of this dispute, especially in the context of war-and-conflicts and policy-and-legislation, are posing challenges for general news reporting. The prime example being the disagreements between Slovakia and the EU Commission over ditching Russian gas, and the subsequent impact on policy, legislation, and possibly, health policy, due to potential energy shortages and financial losses.
