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Slovakia will no longer block the 19th package of sanctions.
BRUSSELS, BRATISLAVA. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico vetoed the 18th package of sanctions against Russia six times in June and July.
Even though European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised Fico that Slovakia would receive guarantees regarding gas supplies after 2028, the prime minister postponed the vote in Brussels, citing the opposition's reaction. Finally, Slovakia approved the sanctions two months later.
Before Thursday's European Council meeting in Brussels, the scenario repeated itself - Slovakia remained the last country to block the 19th sanctions package.
Robert Fico admitted to the parliamentary committee on European affairs on Wednesday morning that he is using the vote as a"means of pressure" and that ultimately he has no problem with the content of the sanctions.
The Commission therefore gave in to Fico on some demands unrelated to Ukraine, and Slovakia should not block the conclusions of Thursday's summit.
While concessions are being made in the case of internal combustion engines or emission permits, the European Commission no longer plans to make compromises on the issue of cutting off Russian energy, and Slovakia and Hungary - which reject the proposals - have been bypassed by the other leaders.
Fico: The Union is in trouble
European leaders travel to Brussels on Thursday, with further sanctions against Russia, which is still waging a war in Ukraine, a key topic. This has not changed even after US President Donald Trump's attempt to organize a peace summit with Putin in Budapest - which appears to have failed.
The nineteenth package of sanctions against Russia concerns liquefied gas, the shadow fleet that Russia exploits to circumvent sanctions, and cryptocurrency platforms. The Slovak Prime Minister has previously announced that he has no problem with the content of the sanctions themselves, but the summit's conclusions cannot focus only on Russia and Ukraine.
On Wednesday, he reiterated that the Union must focus on real problems, such as energy prices, competitiveness, and the future of the automotive industry.
"The European Union is in a mess, we have a huge internal political and economic problem, but we know how to think wisely," Fico said on Wednesday morning at the committee. He also wants to discuss the automotive industry with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz late Wednesday evening.
The President of the European Commission sent a letter to European leaders on Monday, acknowledging that there may be some changes and concessions in the Green Deal. According to her, the Union must remain on the path of transforming the economy towards climate neutrality.
"But we must also admit that the transformation of an economy as large and stable as the EU economy requires a combination of ambition, speed, pragmatism and flexibility, as well as a certain degree of protection against unfair competition," Ursula von der Leyen admits. She thus gives in not only to Slovakia, but also to other skeptics.
The summit's conclusions could therefore include a review of climate goals or emissions.
Fico claims that the conclusions also include a paragraph to respond to rising energy prices in the EU, and obliges the Commission to pay more attention to Slovakia and Hungary. The goal of limiting the sale of cars with combustion engines after 2035 should also be reconsidered.
According to the leaked document, the automotive lobby is also trying to make this ban more flexible and not include hybrids or biofuel cars. According to Fico, car manufacturers in Slovakia would have no problem with it if the restrictions were passed in a relaxed form. However, the Euractiv.sk server warns that car manufacturers are thus creating space for themselves to continue selling cars with combustion engines.
