Slovakia Rejects EU Plan to Phase Out Russian Gas by 2027
- The New York Editorial Desk - Arif
- May 7
- 2 min read
Tone & Political Bias: Moderately Right-Leaning
Why: The article highlights Slovakia’s opposition to EU policy based on national economic interests, reflecting a conservative and sovereignty-first position common in right-leaning narratives.
Slovakia Opposes EU's Russian Energy Phase-Out Plan
On May 7, 2025, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced that Slovakia will not support the European Commission's proposal to stop importing Russian gas, oil, and enriched uranium by the end of 2027. Fico called the plan "unacceptable," stating it would increase energy costs and damage the competitiveness of the European Union.
The European Commission is expected to introduce legal measures in June to enforce this energy shift, as part of a broader strategy to end dependence on Russian fossil fuels following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Slovakia argues that canceling its existing long-term gas contract with the Russian company Gazprom would be economically harmful.
Continued Dependence on Russian Gas
While the EU as a whole has reduced its Russian gas imports from 45% in 2022 to 19% by 2024, Slovakia and nine other EU countries continued receiving Russian supplies. Slovakia, in particular, remains reliant on both Russian gas and oil and has been critical of Ukraine’s decision to halt gas flow through its territory late last year.
The TurkStream pipeline, which carries gas from Russia through Turkey to Southeast Europe, has seen increased activity, with first-quarter exports in 2025 rising 16% compared to the same period last year. Slovakia and Hungary are the primary drivers of this surge. Hungary’s gas imports are projected to hit 8 billion cubic meters this year, while Slovakia has extended its long-term agreement with Gazprom.
Legal and Political Challenges
The Commission's proposal will need approval from both the European Parliament and a qualified majority of EU member states. This means that individual countries like Slovakia or Hungary cannot unilaterally block it, but vocal opposition could still complicate negotiations.
Legal experts have noted that the EU cannot easily terminate existing gas contracts unless formal sanctions are imposed. The use of "force majeure" to exit contracts is unlikely, given that gas deliveries from Russia have remained stable. Additionally, many contracts include "take-or-pay" clauses, meaning payments must be made even if gas is not received.
To navigate these obstacles, EU policymakers are exploring ways to reduce Russian LNG imports through capped volume joint purchasing mechanisms.
Broader Geopolitical Implications
Tensions around Slovakia's stance have grown internationally. Lithuania, a strong Ukraine ally, recently closed its airspace to a flight carrying Slovak Prime Minister Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić as they traveled to Moscow for Russia’s Victory Day celebrations. Lithuania cited GPS signal disturbances as the reason but the decision reflects deeper diplomatic strain.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has openly criticized Fico's close energy ties with Russia, describing them as a serious security concern for Slovakia and the broader region. He warned that continued reliance on Russian resources undermines European sovereignty.
Slovakia's rejection of the EU’s proposed Russian energy phase-out reveals the difficulty of establishing a unified energy strategy within the European Union. While some countries push for full independence from Russian imports, others remain entangled in long-term economic commitments, exposing political and legal vulnerabilities in the EU's energy transition.
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