Slovakia plans to file a lawsuit with the Court of the European Union in the near future to contest the recent EU decision regarding the ban on Russian gas imports. Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that Slovakia intends to seek a temporary suspension of the relevant regulation, which was adopted by a qualified majority and stipulates a complete halt to the import of Russian gas and oil to EU countries starting from November 1, 2027.
This is reported by Finway
Essence of the Lawsuit and Arguments of the Slovak Government
According to Robert Fico, the lawsuit will be filed by April 27 — the last day the country can challenge the decision. He emphasized that the new regulation of the European Council and the European Parliament, adopted on January 26, 2026, is extremely harmful to the entire European Union. The Prime Minister believes that the ban on energy imports from Russia should only be enacted with unanimous support from all member states, as it involves the imposition of a sanctions regime.
“We are concerned about how this resolution was adopted. We are convinced, and I believe that this opinion is shared not only by us but also by other prime ministers, that in this case it represents a sanctions regime, a sanction measure. Therefore, this decision should have been made unanimously,” emphasized Robert Fico.
The Slovak government also advises the country’s Ministry of Justice not only to file the lawsuit but also to approach the court with a request for interim measures that could temporarily halt the ban until a final decision is reached. According to Fico, the time frame for such cases may last from one and a half to three years, so interim measures are necessary to protect the country’s interests.
Reactions from Other Countries and Domestic Political Situation
A similar lawsuit against the ban on Russian gas imports has already been filed by Hungary. Both countries currently maintain supplies of Russian gas, despite EU attempts to reduce energy dependence on Russia and cut funding for the war against Ukraine.
As of now, Slovakia imports Russian gas via the southern route through the “Turkish Stream” and can continue to do so until the fall of 2027. The “Druzhba” oil pipeline is temporarily out of operation; however, the government has announced its swift restart.
Additionally, Robert Fico participated in an international summit on maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz. He noted that even for a landlocked country like Slovakia, the situation in this region and disruptions in oil supply through “Druzhba” negatively impact the energy security of the state.
It is worth noting that there is a tense domestic political situation surrounding the Prime Minister’s actions. The leader of the opposition party “Freedom and Solidarity,” Branislav Gröhling, has filed a criminal complaint against Fico with the General Prosecutor’s Office on suspicion of treason due to his actions regarding the cessation of emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine. The case has already been forwarded to the Bratislava Prosecutor’s Office for further investigation.
Previously, Fico threatened to block a €90 billion loan to Ukraine if Viktor Orbán’s party lost the elections; however, Orbán ultimately lost. The Slovak Prime Minister also accused Ukraine of halting oil transit through the “Druzhba” pipeline.