Brussels, 17/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, whose country is due to take over the reins of the Council of the EU on 1 July, expressed his country's concerns about the German-Russian Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline during his visit to Berlin on Thursday 16 June.
At a press conference after his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Fico said: “Essentially, we are interested in whether or not Nord Stream-2 meets the criteria of energy union, which we have agreed on in the EU and were waiting for the professional opinion from the European Commission”, according to the Slovak TASR press agency.
He underlined the risk of significant financial losses for his country as a result of this new gas pipeline, given that Bratislava could possibly lose the money it receives for transiting Russian gas through its territory from Ukraine and onto the European market. The German chancellor said that Germany considered Nord Stream-2 as an economic project that must be carried out in accordance with Community law. She also said, however, that, “it is important to ensure that Nord Stream-2 won't adversely affect Slovakia”.
Merkel also shared the point of view of her Slovakian counterpart with regard to the need to maintain gas infrastructure between Slovakia and Ukraine. She added: “I also believe that Commissioner Sefcovic will lead trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia and the European Commission and also represent the Slovak interests that should be taken into account”.
Fico highlighted the international dimension of this dossier and indicated that Slovakia had “saved” Ukraine by way of the reverse gas flows two years ago. He concluded: “I hope that will be capable of combining the three factors: compliance with EU energy union, our own economic interests that have been put in jeopardy and then the interests of a global nature concerning Ukraine”. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)