Slovak PM says EU can forget about Slovakia's support for Ukraine's fast-track accession
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has said following criticism from the European Commission over dual diesel pricing that Brussels should pressure Ukraine on the Druzhba oil pipeline issue, otherwise Slovakia will not help accelerate Ukraine's accession to the European Union.
Source: Slovak newspaper Denník N, as reported by European Pravda
Details: Fico claimed that the European Commission is trying to influence the political situation in Slovakia following criticism of his government over the introduction of two-tier diesel pricing.
The government decided that diesel fuel would be sold at two different prices in Slovakia – drivers from other countries have to pay more.
Fico said Slovakia has the right to protect itself from the repercussions of the conflict in the Middle East. He also noted that oil has not been flowing through the Druzhba pipeline for the second month in a row. The prime minister yet again claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is responsible and that this is harming Slovakia.
The European Commission sent Slovakia a letter that Fico described as threatening. In it, the Commission reserved the right to initiate urgent infringement proceedings and asked Slovakia to stop applying the measure.
Fico called on the Commission to send a similar letter to Zelenskyy and pressure Ukraine to allow an inspection team to examine the Druzhba pipeline. He also urged the Commission president to warn Zelenskyy that if pipeline operations are not restored, Ukraine will not receive a €90 billion loan.
Another demand by Fico is to include representatives of Slovakia and Hungary, as well as experts from the EU or Czechia, in the inspection group.
"Let the EU forget about Slovakia's help in accelerating Ukraine's accession to the EU," he added.
Economy Minister Denisa Saková said the dual pricing has been introduced because the state has lent oil from its strategic reserves to the Slovnaft refinery.
The Commission has also criticised Slovakia for limiting refuelling purchases to €400 per tank. According to Saková, the measure had an effect, as within two days the share of empty petrol stations dropped from 10% to 5%.
She added that Slovnaft has already begun returning the borrowed oil and is expected to complete the process by 15 April.
Background:
- Earlier, Fico threatened to block the EU's 20th sanctions package against Russia unless the Commission pressures Ukraine to resume Russian oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline.
- On 23 February, he said he had ordered the suspension of emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine because supplies of Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline had not resumed.
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