Key Facts
• July 16: EU fails to approve sanctions against Russia for the second day.
• Slovakia opposes due to reliance on Russian energy imports.
• EU sent a letter on July 15 to address Slovakia’s concerns but failed to gain support.
• Malta also expressed opposition to the sanctions proposal.
• Slovakia aims to phase out Russian gas imports by the end of 2027.
• Slovak PM demands guarantees to mitigate risks from gas supply changes.
• Slovakia links energy phase-out to the 18th sanctions package approval.
• EU continues negotiations to clarify commitments to Slovakia.
Summary
The European Union (EU) has failed to approve a comprehensive sanctions package against Russia for the second consecutive day, with Slovakia and Malta opposing the proposal. Slovakia, heavily reliant on Russian energy imports, expressed concerns over the economic impact of phasing out Russian gas by 2027. Despite efforts by the European Commission to address these concerns, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico insists on guarantees to mitigate risks before supporting the sanctions. The EU continues negotiations to resolve the impasse and secure Slovakia’s approval for the 18th sanctions package.
