EU country's leader denounces Brussels' ‘imbecilic' Russia plan
The RePowerEU plan envisages cutting all Russian oil and gas imports into the EU by 2027. The scheme has met with opposition not only from Slovakia, but also Hungary, Austria, and reportedly Italy.
In a video posted on Facebook on Monday, Fico said the 'battle for Slovakia's energy security is nearing its end,' acknowledging that Bratislava cannot veto Brussels' plan. He accused the EU leadership of deliberately presenting the proposal as trade legislation to pre-empt opposition. Unlike sanctions, the plan only requires a qualified majority to pass.
'The [European] Commission's proposal is, excuse my language, imbecilic. Demagogically, it is the result of a limitless obsession with Russia,' the prime minister said. He added that phasing out Russian energy will 'damage the Slovak economy and undermine the competitiveness of the entire EU.'
Responding to a letter from Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who urged Fico to support the EU's 18th sanctions package against Russia, the Slovak leader stated on Monday that he would not relent until 'relevant stakeholders provide [Bratislava] with the necessary guarantees that after January 1, 2028, Slovakia will have sufficient gas supplies at reasonable prices.'
Slovakia blocked the sanctions package for the second time last Friday, demanding that its concerns over the separate RePowerEU plan be addressed first.
While Russian gas has not been subject to a direct EU ban, most member states have voluntarily cut imports. However, several landlocked countries – including Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, and the Czech Republic – still rely on limited volumes through exemptions. Bratislava and Budapest also receive much of their oil from Russia.
Russia has warned that targeting its energy exports will continue to cause energy prices to surge across the EU, weakening the bloc's economy. Since 2022, growth across the EU has stagnated.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
3 hours ago
- Russia Today
EU hatching secret electric car plan
The EU is drafting legislation that could force rental and corporate fleets to switch to electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030, Bild reported on Saturday, citing sources in Brussels. The directive is reportedly being quietly discussed by the European Commission and could be unveiled as early as late summer before going to the European Parliament. The regulation is seen as a backdoor to accelerate the green transition and enforce the bloc's combustion-engine ban, which mandates a 100% cut in CO2 emissions from new cars by 2035, effectively outlawing gasoline and diesel vehicles. Car manufacturers have criticized the plan as too costly and requiring full conversions of production lines. The new rules will reportedly apply to all rental companies and businesses with car fleets across the bloc. If approved, such entities will only be allowed to purchase EVs, thus impacting around 60% of new car sales, Bild said. A Commission spokesperson confirmed that work is underway on such a plan but declined to provide details. Lawmakers warn the measure could harm Europe's rental sector: companies such as Enterprise, Hertz, and Sixt already scaled back EV fleets in 2024, citing poor charging infrastructure, high repair costs, and weak resale values. EU MP Markus Ferber urged the Commission to drop the plan, calling it 'unrealistic.' Sixt CEO Nico Gabriel agreed, warning that few vacationers rent EVs and that mandatory electrification would drive up rental costs due to charging infrastructure needs. Critics say Europe's green push is straining its auto industry and wider economy. Carmakers face penalties if they fail to boost EV sales and must spend heavily on new production lines, batteries, chargers, and grid upgrades. The transition also threatens jobs: automaker Stellantis warned this month it could close plants if it fails to meet EU deadlines. Former EU commissioner Thierry Breton warned the shift to EVs could cost 600,000 jobs. Manufacturers have called for subsidies and state support to avoid losing more market share to rivals in China and the US. Other sectors face similar problems, especially as Brussels phases out Russian energy, imports of which have dropped sharply in light of Ukraine-related sanctions. Russian officials have warned that rejecting its supplies will force the EU to rely on costlier alternatives or rerouted Russian energy via intermediaries.
Russia Today
16 hours ago
- Russia Today
Ukraine unlikely to join EU in the near term
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has downplayed the prospect of Ukraine joining the EU in the near future, saying it is unlikely to happen during the bloc's current budget cycle, which runs through 2034. Some EU officials had suggested the country could become a member much earlier. Ukraine made EU accession a national priority in 2019, formally applying in 2022 shortly after the escalation of the conflict with Russia. It was granted candidate status later that year, with the European Commission suggesting Kiev could join by 2030 if it made sufficient progress in areas such as political and judicial reforms, as well as in combating organized crime and corruption. Merz made the remarks on Friday during a press conference with Romanian President Nicusor Dan in Berlin. 'For us, the absolute top priority is, first and foremost, to do everything possible to end this war,' he said, adding, 'then we'll talk about the reconstruction of Ukraine.' That process, he said, would take 'a number of years' and likely fall outside the EU's current medium-term financial outlook. EU membership requires the unanimous approval of all 27 member states. While Brussels supports Kiev's bid, some of the bloc's nations – including Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland – remain opposed, arguing that Ukraine's institutions and economy are unprepared and that membership would place an unbearable financial strain on the union. Moscow strongly opposes Ukraine's NATO ambitions, but initially took a neutral stance on EU membership. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in March that Kiev had the 'sovereign right' to join, as long as the bloc remained focused on economics. However, amid a broader drive among European NATO states to boost their militaries, Russian officials have grown more critical. In June, the EU redirected approximately €335 billion ($390 billion) in Covid relief funds towards military uses. The month before that, Brussels introduced a €150 billion debt and loan instrument to back its members' armed forces and military industrial sector. The funding will also be made available to Kiev. Russia has condemned those steps, accusing both NATO and the EU of 'rabid militarization.' Former President Dmitry Medvedev said the EU now poses 'no less of a threat' to Russia than US-led NATO.
Russia Today
20 hours ago
- Russia Today
EU applicant's top MP compares bloc to USSR
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has accused the EU of interfering in his counry's domestic affairs and imposing false political choices, comparing the bloc's actions to Soviet-style tactics. The comments follow the European Commission's warning this week that Georgia's EU integration could be suspended unless the government returns to what Brussels calls a democratic path by the end of summer. The EU also threatened to revoke visa-free travel for Georgian citizens if the authorities fail to meet key conditions, including repealing the 'foreign agents' law and strengthening LGBTQ+ rights. 'We see direct interference in the Georgian elections,' Papuashvili said on Friday, as quoted by local media. 'It seems that some of the political elite [in Brussels] have taken some skills from the Soviet Union.' Georgia – once part of the Soviet Union – applied for EU membership in March 2022, shortly after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict. It was granted candidate status in December 2023 but has since suspended accession talks, citing Brussels' increasingly coercive tone. The government, however, insists that it remains committed to eventual EU membership. The ruling Georgian Dream party, which secured a strong majority in last October's vote, has repeatedly accused Western powers of meddling under the guise of promoting democracy. Officials in Tbilisi have drawn parallels to the 2014 Maidan uprising in Ukraine and said similar tactics are being used to destabilize Georgia for refusing to adopt a confrontational stance against Russia in the Ukraine conflict. Moscow, which has denied any involvement in Georgia's internal affairs, has also drawn a parallel between the events in Georgia and the 2014 coup in Ukraine. Following Georgian Dream's victory, a coalition of pro-Western parties alleged fraud and launched protests to force the government's resignation. The EU and US voiced support for the opposition, which the Georgian leadership denounced as foreign interference. Papuashvili also criticized the EU's earlier decision to revoke visa privileges for diplomatic and service passport holders, calling it a breach of international law and the 2010 visa agreement. Georgia has enjoyed visa-free travel to the bloc since 2017.
