Economy Minister Denisa Saková (source: TASR)
Slovakia has secured political guarantees from the European Commission to cushion the economic fallout of a full exit from Russian gas supplies by 2028, following protracted negotiations between Bratislava and Brussels. The agreement comes as the country begins to unwind its longstanding energy dependence on Moscow, amid growing tensions between the ruling coalition and opposition parties over the pace and terms of the transition.
Economy Minister Denisa Saková (Hlas), who led the talks, described the outcome as “a result at the very edge of what was politically and technically possible”, highlighting Slovakia’s unique vulnerability within the EU. The landlocked central European country has historically relied on Russia for up to 70 percent of its natural gas imports, a figure that is now expected to fall to zero.
Speaking as a guest on TA3’s Sunday political programme V Politike (In Politics) on 20 July, Saková defended the deal and sought to counter growing domestic criticism. “We achieved commitments that give Slovakia breathing room,” she said. “Not everyone appreciated our uncompromising approach during the talks, but this is about national interest and economic resilience.”
Among the assurances secured were provisions to allow continued use of Slovakia’s long-term gas contract with Gazprom until at least the end of 2027, a suspension mechanism in the event of energy supply disruption or market volatility, and access to unused EU structural funds to finance diversification projects. The Commission has also agreed to expedite state aid approvals for Slovakia’s industrial sector and to appoint a coordinator to monitor the implementation of these guarantees.
Minister defends stance on Gazprom
The agreement, however, has sparked political backlash at home. Opposition MP Marián Viskupič of the SaS party accused the government of failing to hold Gazprom accountable for allegedly underdelivering on contracted volumes. “They are not meeting full capacity,” he claimed during the TA3 debate. Saková immediately refuted the charge, insisting that Gazprom was fulfilling “100 percent of its obligations”.
She also rejected proposals to launch legal proceedings against the Russian supplier. “We will not take Gazprom to arbitration, just as previous governments did not,” she said. “Doing so would jeopardise our access to competitively priced gas in the short term.”
Viskupič further called for the removal of Jozef Holjenčík, head of the national energy regulatory authority (ÚRSO), citing a tripling of gas storage costs under his tenure. Holjenčík was reappointed to the post in December 2023 by the Robert Fico cabinet on Saková’s recommendation. He previously led the authority from 2007 to 2017. Saková stands by Holjenčík.
While the Brussels agreement offers Slovakia temporary stability, longer-term challenges remain. The country must contend with its industrial exposure, lack of alternative domestic supply, and rising transit costs as it shifts from a gas corridor to a final consumer on Europe’s pipeline map.
Saková confirmed she will return to Brussels later this summer to continue talks with Commission officials on implementation plans and regulatory adjustments.
