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Brussels/Bratislava – Energy Commissioner Dan Jörgensen announced on the X platform on Thursday that he had a “good and open discussion about the energy situation and the broader implications of the cessation of Russian gas transit through Ukraine” with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. This is reported by TASR’s Brussels correspondent.
“We will continue to closely discuss these issues at both the political and technical levels with Slovakia and Ukraine,” Jörgensen stated on the X platform, essentially confirming Fico’s words from the press conference. Fico also mentioned the establishment of a working group in which Slovakia’s interests will be represented by Economy Minister Denisa Saková (Hlas-SD). The minister also participated in negotiations in Brussels on Thursday with Commissioner Jörgensen and representatives of the European Commission’s General Directorate for Energy.
Jörgensen emphasized that “while there is no problem with gas supply security for the EU,” he discussed Slovakia’s economic concerns at the bilateral meeting with Fico and noted that he and the Slovak Prime Minister prepared a joint statement on this issue.
“We had a good and open discussion about the energy situation and the broader implications of the cessation of Russian gas transit through Ukraine. We will continue to closely discuss these issues at both the political and technical levels between Slovakia and the European Commission. In this context, we agreed to establish a high-level working group to monitor and identify opportunities based on a joint assessment of the situation to determine how the EU can help,” reads the complete text of the joint statement by Jörgensen and Fico.
In this regard, the Slovak Prime Minister reminded that his government is ready to “put all its energy into it” 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Saková reminded journalists in Brussels that her ministry made maximum efforts last year to secure gas supplies through transit via Ukraine and stressed that her ministry has not lost this hope.
“We want Slovaks and Slovak industry to have sufficient energy at affordable prices. We are prepared for this season and this year, we have enough gas in storage, we have signed diversification contracts for gas supplies through various transit systems. No, we are not giving up; on the contrary, we will continue to negotiate at the European Commission level, with the Ukrainian side, and with other partners to restore gas supplies and transit through Ukraine,” Saková described the situation. She added that restoring gas supplies through this route will also benefit other Central European countries.
She stated that the Slovak side is ready to discuss this situation “at every possible meeting” from next Monday, while “seeking a solution that is advantageous for Ukraine, Slovakia, and the entire Central European region.” (January 9)
“We are not giving up; on the contrary, we will continue to negotiate at the European Commission level, with the Ukrainian side, and with other partners to restore gas supplies and transit through Ukraine.” Denisa Saková