Slovak PM Fico Clashes with Brussels Over Fuel Prices, Urges Pressure on Ukraine for Russian Oil Transit

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has firmly rejected demands from the European Commission to abolish a dual pricing system at the nation's gas stations. Instead, the Slovak leader is urging Brussels to exert pressure on Ukraine to restore the transit of Russian oil to his country.

Fuel Crisis and Dual Pricing

The dispute stems from a 30-day restriction on diesel and gasoline implemented by the Bratislava government on March 18. The measure was introduced in response to a sharp surge in global oil prices triggered by a war in Iran. To prevent drivers from neighboring European Union countries from crossing the border to buy cheaper fuel, Slovakia established higher prices for vehicles with foreign license plates. Authorities justified the move by stating that current domestic supplies are solely sustained by state reserves.

Clash with the European Commission

The European Commission has strongly condemned the dual pricing policy. Recently, an EC spokesperson described the measures as "highly discriminatory." According to Fico, the Commission has even threatened the Slovak government with legal action for violating European legislation. However, the Prime Minister dismissed the demand to scrap the tiered pricing as "absolutely unfair to Slovakia" and suggested that the restrictive measures could be extended.

Demands Over Russian Oil Transit

Fico argued that the fuel restrictions would be entirely unnecessary if the European Commission pressured Ukraine into resuming the transit of Russian crude oil to Slovakia. Despite broader EU embargoes, Bratislava remains heavily dependent on Russian energy and previously secured an exemption from EU sanctions to continue imports and avert domestic shortages.

Escalating Tensions

The latest clash is part of a growing rift over energy supplies. On March 29, Fico threatened to veto the EU's 20th package of sanctions against Russia unless Brussels forces Kyiv to reopen the "Druzhba" pipeline for Russian oil transit. Earlier, on February 23, the Slovak Prime Minister announced he had ordered a halt to emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine in retaliation for the continued suspension of oil flows through the same pipeline.