Slovakia taps Westinghouse for major nuclear project, skips tender rules
Westinghouse 'has a product - a nuclear reactor with a power output of 1,250 megawatts - that fits our plans,' Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said over the weekend.
Economy Minister Denisa Saková confirmed the government would proceed without a tender, citing faster timelines in Poland and Bulgaria compared to Czechia, where a public procurement process took nearly four years and cost 'hundreds of millions of euros.'
An intergovernmental deal with the US has already been finalised, Saková added. While it does not technically oblige Slovakia to choose Westinghouse, it anticipates a construction contract in 2027, pending feasibility studies.
The European Commission is currently reviewing the compatibility of the draft US-Slovak deal under the Euratom Treaty, with a decision expected by the end of July, a source familiar with the file told EURACTIV Slovakia. A separate assessment will follow once the actual investment project is formally agreed, alongside additional reviews on state aid, procurement rules, and environmental compliance.
The opposition has criticised the decision to proceed without expert public consultation or debate in the National Council. Financing also remains unclear, though the government has launched a tender to select a financial advisor for the project.
(de)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euractiv
3 hours ago
- Euractiv
Zelenskyy: Territorial issue should be discussed ‘only' at trilateral meeting
The issue of a territorial swap, demanded by Russian President Vladimir Putin, should be discussed only between Ukraine and Russia at a trilateral meeting with the United States, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. Speaking today at a press conference with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, Zelenskyy reiterated that the Ukrainian constitution makes it impossible to cede any territory. 'Russia is still unsuccessful in the Donetsk region. Putin has been unable to take it for twelve years,' the Ukrainian leader said. However, he added that since the territorial issue is so important, 'it should be discussed only by the leaders of Ukraine and Russia at the trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia.' 'So far, Russia has given no sign that such a trilateral meeting will happen. And if Russia refuses, then new sanctions must follow,' he said. Russia currently occupies 20% of Ukraine's territory – Crimea excluded – which was annexed by Russia in 2014. Von der Leyen, for her part, reiterated the EU's position that international borders cannot be changed by force. 'These are decisions to be made by Ukraine and Ukraine alone, and these decisions cannot be taken without Ukraine at the table,' she said. Asked about former US President Donald Trump's decision to focus on a peace deal instead of his initial objective of a ceasefire, von der Leyen replied that 'the term is not so important.' What matters most, she stressed, is stopping the killing. 'To achieve that, a trilateral meeting between the presidents of Ukraine, the United States, and Russia should happen as soon as possible,' she said, adding that any agreement should include 'clear timelines.' NATO-like guarantees She emphasised that 'this peace must be achieved through strength' and underscored the need for 'strong security guarantees to protect both Ukraine and Europe's vital security interests.' According to von der Leyen, there could be no limitations on the Ukrainian armed forces, whether in terms of cooperation with, or assistance from, third countries. Zelenskyy welcomed Trump's willingness to work with Europe and provide NATO-like guarantees. 'For everyone in Europe, this is a significant change, but there are no details on how it will work and what America's and Europe's role will be. And this is our main task,' he said. Regarding Ukraine's EU path, Zelenskyy stressed that there should be no division between Ukraine and Moldova. 'If such a division takes place, it will automatically mean that Europe is divided on Ukraine - that Europe does not have a common and strong position on guarantees. Many in Europe see that such a vision will only make things worse,' he warned.
Euractiv
6 hours ago
- Euractiv
Europe's top politicians to join Zelenskyy for tense talks with Trump
EU chief von der Leyen and other European top politicians will attend a crucial meeting in Washington on Monday between US President Trump and Ukrainian leader Zelenskyy, which is expected to shape the future of the war in Ukraine. In a post on X, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she would meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this afternoon in Brussels, and that both will participate in a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing - a group of countries backing Kyiv. 'At the request of President Zelenskyy, I will join the meeting with President Trump and other European leaders at the White House tomorrow,' von der Leyen said. NATO chief Mark Rutte, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Finnish President Alexander Stubb will also attend the meeting. The German government said that the European leaders would try to emphasise 'interest in a swift peace agreement in Ukraine'. Meanwhile, media reports in the US suggest that President Donald Trump has informed European heads of state and government that he aims to arrange a trilateral summit between himself, Zelenskyy, and Russian President Vladimir Putin by next Friday. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested that the European venue for the potential summit could be a place where discussions take place on a permanent basis. This is a developing story that will be updated. (sm, bms)
Euractiv
a day ago
- Euractiv
Europe declares it is ready to maintain pressure on Russia
European leaders have issued a statement declaring their readiness to maintain pressure on Russia through sanctions, following a summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. 'We will continue to strengthen sanctions and broader economic measures to exert pressure on Russia's war economy until a just and lasting peace is achieved,' the statement reads. The statement was signed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and the prime ministers of Italy and the United Kingdom. The leaders emphasized their willingness to 'work with President Trump and President Zelenskyy towards a trilateral summit with European support.' They insisted that Moscow 'cannot have a veto' over Ukraine's potential membership in the European Union or NATO. On Saturday morning, US President Donald Trump ruled out an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine following his inconclusive summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that a direct peace agreement would ultimately be required to end the war. While both the White House and the Kremlin pointed to areas of agreement during their three-hour talks in Alaska, no breakthrough was achieved on securing a ceasefire in a conflict that has left tens of thousands dead and caused widespread devastation across Ukraine. 'A great and very successful day in Alaska!' Trump declared on his Truth Social platform, just hours after returning to Washington. 19th Russia sanctions package EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also weighed in on Saturday, telling journalists that Washington holds the power to force Russia to negotiate seriously. 'But the harsh reality is that Russia has no intention of ending this war anytime soon,' she said. Putin left Anchorage without making any commitments to end the war, and she holds 'Russia's imperialist foreign policy' responsible. 'Europe will therefore continue to support Ukraine, including by working on a 19th Russia sanctions package.' French President Emmanuel Macron, posting on X, called for 'unbreakable' security guarantees in any future peace deal and warned against Russia's 'well-documented tendency to violate its own commitments.' British Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised Trump's efforts, saying they had brought the world 'closer than ever before to ending Russia's illegal war in Ukraine.' 'While progress has been made, the next step must be further talks involving Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,' Starmer said in a statement. Several EU government officials reacted to the meeting, criticising Putin's 'gaslighting' tactics - with the notable exception of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who hailed the summit. 'For years, we have watched the two biggest nuclear powers dismantle the framework of their cooperation and shoot unfriendly messages back and forth. That has now come to an end. Today the world is a safer place than it was yesterday,' said Orbán, a rare pro-Kremlin leader in Europe, on X. (sm)
