Chief spokesperson of the European Commission, Paola Pinho, stated at a briefing in Brussels on June 11 that in order to secure unanimous support from all EU member states for the 18th package of sanctions against Russia, the Commission will engage in discussions with Slovakia regarding its concerns over a potential halt to Russian energy supplies to the EU, reports Baltimore Chronicle with reference to European Pravda.
This decision follows a statement from Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who declared he would block the adoption of the new sanctions package unless the European Union offers a clear solution to the “crisis situation” Slovakia would face if Russian energy imports to the EU are completely stopped.
Pinho recalled that all previous 17 sanction packages had been approved unanimously by the 27 EU member states, and achieving the same result for the 18th package remains a priority. “That is why we are doing our homework — reaching out to all member states and discussing with them how potential problems can be addressed,” she emphasized.
According to her, the European Commission is once again actively cooperating with member countries, including Slovakia, listening to their concerns and seeking ways to address them. She highlighted that since the beginning of the war, the EU has been steadily reducing its reliance on Russian fossil fuels, and this process has been progressing successfully.
Additionally, Pinho announced that the European Commission will soon present a new legislative initiative aimed at fully ending the EU’s dependence on Russian energy resources.
Earlier we wrote that Bulgaria to adopt euro in 2026 — European Commission confirms.