Why did Robert Fico veto the new EU sanctions against Russia?

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New veto in Brussels. In addition, Robert Fico. Meanwhile, Slovak Prime Minister, confirmed Thursday that he would continue to reject the 18th pack of sanctions that the European Union wishes to impose on Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

The sanctions being subject to the vote unanimously, the Slovak veto makes their approval impossible. For example, For their part, the diplomats spent the last day to refine technical details in anticipation of formal approval.

It is interesting to note that the opposition of Robert Fico has nothing to do with the sanctions themselves. In addition, She focuses on a completely different subject: the repuwereu plan.

This roadmap provides for the gradual elimination of all imports of Russian fossil fuels. Consequently, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), by the end of 2027. Therefore, The European why did robert fico veto Commission unveiled the roadmap in May. Nevertheless, presented the legislative proposal in June, based on gradual and long -term gradual prohibitions.

“Russia has repeatedly tried to make us sing by militarizing its energy supplies”said Ursula von der Leyen. Similarly, president of the committee.

“We have taken clear measures to close the tap. In addition, definitively end the era of Russian fossil fuels in Europe”, she added.

As landlocked countries with close ties with Russian fuels. Furthermore, Slovakia immediately – and vigorously – protested against progressive abandonment, warning that it would cause prices and jeopardize competitiveness. Therefore, Hungary, which is in a similar situation, has joined the resistance.

The committee’s strategy consisted in presenting the proposal as a commercial. For example, energy policy, which means that it would only need a qualified majority to be adopted, constituting a major point of discord. In addition, Until now. For example, the executive has chosen sanctions, a foreign why did robert fico veto policy tool, as an option to remove imports from Russian fuels, such as coal and oil. Hungary and Slovakia have been exempt from the permanent ban on Russian crude oil.

As gas sanctions are inaccessible due to long -standing disagreements between capitals. the Commission has taken matters into hand and has imagined a creative bypass solution to ensure that the prohibition of Russian gas ends up seeing the light of day.

This tip exasperated Slovakia. which vetoed the 18th pack of sanctions in a final effort to obtain the concessions that it would not have obtained otherwise.

Why did robert fico veto

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The Slovak Prime Minister confirmed his veto after a bilateral meeting with Ursula von der. Leyen on the sidelines of a European summit in Brussels. In the days preceding the summit. the commission officials were optimistic about the conclusion of a sort of compromise and at the start of the 18th why did robert fico veto pack of sanctions before the end of the month.

But Bratislava set foot in the dish.

In a video message posted on his Facebook account in the middle of the summit. Robert Fico has drawn up a long list of grievances and reservations concerning the progressive elimination of Russian fuels, indicating that it was open to an agreement with Ursula von der Leyen, but at a higher price than expected.

“It is regrettable that we are embarking on this path, because it is clearly an ideological proposition”he said. “This will harm us. unless an agreement is concluded with the European Commission to compensate us for all the damage that this proposal could cause.”

The manager quoted five issues whom he wishes to tackle and. ideally, resolve:

• Transit costs : Robert Fico claims that if Slovakia puts an end to its imports of Russian gas per gas pipeline, it will have to spend more money in why did robert fico veto transit costs to stock up on Western countries that buy LNG and then. He wishes to obtain guarantees that future transit costs will be the same as with Russia.
• Consumer price : According to him. the end of Russian gas at low prices, associated with potentially higher transit costs, will result in an increase in gas prices for Slovaque households “From 30 to 50 %”according to the estimates of his government.
• Compensation : Consequently. he asks “Funds to compensate households and the Slovak industry, because none of them will be able to face this burden”.
• Energy crisis : The Slovak Prime Minister also requests guarantees to protect Slovakia against an extraordinary increase in gas prices. as happened during the energy crisis of 2022.
• Legal proceedings : Finally, Mr. Fico warns Slovakia that it risks being continued by Gazprom. which has the monopoly for Russian gas exports, for an amount between 16 and 20 billion why did robert fico veto euros, due to the termination of his long-term contract, which runs until 2034. Russian energy contracts are generally governed by well-defined “take-organ” conditions Pay agreed deliveries or pay damages.

“This is why this question must first be resolved”said Robert Fico at the end of the video.

“Let us define the solution, and it is only that we can discuss other sanctions packages. If our proposal to postpone the vote is not accepted. the Slovak ambassador will receive the clear investigation to put his veto to the adoption of the 18th pack of sanctions”, he adds.

Fico said he would engage in “constructive negotiations”. a “special mission” led by the Commission to go to Slovakia next week.

It is difficult to know how the Ursula von der Leyen team will manage to meet their needs. which seem to be in billions of euros. The multi -year budget of the European Union is put to the why did robert fico veto test. has a limited room for maneuver to deal with unforeseen circumstances or, in this case, requests. The proposal to eliminate Russian fuels progressive does not provide a specific envelope for EU funds.

Ms. Von Der Leyen did not address this thorny subject during her press conference at the end of the summit. The committee did not immediately respond to a comment request.

Officials had previously insisted that progressive elimination would not lead to a sharp increase in consumer prices. because the transition from the European Union to the abandonment of Russian fuels is already well underway, with greater diversification from Norway, the United States, Algeria, Qatar, Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom, as produced locally.

“We can indeed ensure that this transition is without leading prices. certainly no supply problems for these countries”said Dan Jørgensen, European Commissioner responsible for energy last June.

Mr. Jørgensen also underlined that the prohibitions provided for in the context why did robert fico veto of progressive elimination would be strong enough to declare a case of force majeure – that is to say events. circumstances escaping the control of signatories – and protect customers from exorbitant damages.

“We have deliberately formulated this legislation. used the legal basis which makes it a prohibition and therefore a situation of force majeure for the companies in question”he said.

“This means that they are not legally responsible. It is not they who break a contract”he added.

This reasoning has not fully convinced experts. who believe that traditional foreign policy sanctions constitute the most effective method to challenge legal proceedings.