Slovak PM slams EU plan to halt Russian energy imports as 'economic suicide'

BRATISLAVA - Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Wednesday blamed the European Commission's proposal to completely halt energy imports from Russia, calling the plan unacceptable in its current form.

Fico warned that it is simply "economic suicide" to put imports of Russian gas, oil, and nuclear fuel to an end just because "a kind of new Iron Curtain" is being built between the Western world and the Russian Federation.

His remarks came in response to the European Commission's unveiling of the REPowerEU Roadmap on Tuesday, a comprehensive plan to eliminate the EU's reliance on Russian gas by 2027. The roadmap outlined a phased plan to halt imports of Russian natural gas, oil, and nuclear materials across the 27-member bloc.

According to the roadmap, 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.

Such a step would significantly damage the competitiveness of both the EU and Slovakia, Fico stressed.

A day before, Hungary also voiced strong rejection against the EU roadmap. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said the plan would jeopardize Hungary's energy security.