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Saková: There is no unified opinion in the European Commission on the restoration of gas transit through Ukraine

by AI | 31.Mar 2025 | Europe in brief AI

Denisa Saková claims that the European Commission representatives are not united regarding the renewal of gas transit through Ukraine.

The Minister of Economy of the Slovak Republic, Denisa Saková, claims that Brussels is not united regarding the resumption of gas transit through Ukraine. PHOTO_ TASR

Bratislava – Negotiations of the European Commission (EC) working group on resuming gas transit through Ukraine continue, but the views of the Commission’s leadership on this topic are not unified. While Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen declared that he does not count on the resumption of transit, EC President Ursula von der Leyen claimed that Slovakia with the EU executive and Ukraine will make maximum efforts to restore gas transit through Ukraine. The resumption of transit would help, among other things, reduce gas prices in Europe, said Economy Minister Denisa Saková (Hlas-SD) on Monday, TASR reports.

“We have long argued that it would help not only our region, not only Slovakia and Austria particularly, but it would help the whole European Union, because the competitiveness of the European Union is far from expectations compared to other countries,” said Saková.

The head of the Ministry of Economy pointed to a study by Goldman Sachs, according to which the price of gas after the resumption of transit could drop from the current more than 40 euros per megawatt-hour (MWh) to 22 euros/MWh. “We can say that the competitiveness of the European Union could get a restart,” Saková added.

According to the minister, another effect would be the reduction of gas prices for Slovakia and Austria, which are currently at the end of transport routes and have prices approximately a tenth higher than other countries. Although the European Commission, according to Saková, suggested to Slovakia to use alternative transport routes, their capacities are largely occupied by the states they pass through.

Currently, the Slovak SPP has been released another part of the capacity on the southern route by Hungary. From April, the import of Russian gas for SPP will increase several times, which will ensure a sufficient amount of gas for Slovak SPP customers for the upcoming heating season. Increasing the capacity of Turkstream or increasing production, for example in Azerbaijan, faces the return on investment, which would reach billions of euros. According to Saková, the EU currently does not plan such support in its strategy. (March 31)

“We have long argued that resuming the transit of natural gas through Ukraine would help not only our region, not only Slovakia and Austria particularly, but it would help the whole European Union, because the competitiveness of the EU is far from expectations compared to other countries.” Denisa Saková.