Slovakia not to support EU plan to end Russian energy imports: economy ministry

BRATISLAVA - The European Commission's plan to stop the supply of gas, oil and nuclear fuel from Russia is not in Slovakia's interest, nor in that of other European Union (EU) member states, the Slovak Ministry of Economy said on Tuesday.

According to a press release issued by the ministry, Slovakia will not agree to the plan.

The European Commission on Tuesday unveiled a new roadmap to end EU's reliance on Russian gas by 2027. The REPowerEU Roadmap sets out a phased and coordinated plan to halt imports of Russian natural gas, oil, and nuclear materials across the 27-member bloc, according to the Commission.

Under the proposal, the EU would immediately stop signing new contracts for Russian gas and terminate all existing spot market deals by the end of 2025. All remaining Russian gas imports would cease by the end of 2027.

The move will have a negative impact on energy prices in Europe, further worsening the competitiveness of European industry, said the Slovak Ministry of Economy.

The Commission's proposal has not undergone a proper impact assessment and does not contain an analysis of the impact on prices, competitiveness or energy security, it added.

Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Denisa Sakova said the ministry disagrees with the proposal and will convey this stance to the Commission.