Czechia steps in to help Slovakia after EU dumps Russian gas
Photo: Czech Minister of Trade and Industry Lukáš Vlček (wikimedia org)
Czechia is ready to provide Slovakia with accelerated gas support after European Union energy ministers decided to gradually phase out Russian gas imports, Euractiv reports.
A complete ban on Russian gas supplies to the EU is planned from January 2028. Only Hungary and Slovakia opposed the decision, expressing concerns about risks to energy security and possible price increases.
Czech Minister of Trade and Industry Lukáš Vlček acknowledged these fears as justified, but reminded that countries had enough time to prepare, as Prague did by modernizing its infrastructure and diversifying its supplies.
Before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Czechia was also heavily dependent on Russian gas, but it reduced this dependence by investing in Western LNG terminals. Although certain volumes of fuel from Russia are still coming in, Prague supports a complete ban on imports at the EU level.
"Russia is waging war against us, and prolonging the financing of that war makes no sense," Vlček stresses.
Bratislava and Budapest, on the other hand, say they currently have no real alternative supply routes.
"We, as others, argued it is technically possible. We will again present our figures to the European Commission to show what capacity can be provided via western routes," Vlček says after the EU Energy Council meeting.
According to him, negotiations between Prague and Bratislava are ongoing. The minister said that he recently discussed the details of the proposal with Slovak Economy Minister Denisa Saková during the European Nuclear Forum in Bratislava.
"I told my Slovak colleague: if Slovakia needs closer cooperation, Czechia is ready,” he said, noting Bratislava’s openness. “Slovakia thanked us. The option is there, but Slovakia must request it. If it does, we are ready immediately," Vlček emphasizes.
Previously, gas was transported from east to west through Slovakia, which earned it transit revenue. Now, in the event of a reverse supply, the economic scheme will change — Prague will charge for fuel delivery to Slovakia.
EU refuses Russian gas
Most European Union member states on Monday approved a ban on Russian natural gas imports to the bloc from the end of 2027 during a meeting of energy ministers in Luxembourg.
Moreover, yesterday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced new agreements between Ukraine and Slovakia.
