BRATISLAVA – Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said Thursday he would not back the EU’s 19th sanctions package against Russia unless the European Commission proposes concrete measures to protect industry and stabilise energy prices.
Speaking alongside European Council President António Costa in Bratislava, Fico criticised EU climate targets and demanded that Brussels take greater account of European industry, making this a condition for his support of further sanctions.
“I would not back new sanctions against Russia unless the European Commission puts forward realistic proposals on how to reconcile our ambitious climate goals with the needs of car manufacturing not only in Slovakia but across the EU, as well as with the needs of heavy industry,” Fico said at a press conference with Costa on Thursday.
He added that he does not rule out revising some of the EU’s more demanding climate targets if there is political will.
Fico, long known for his contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stressed that his government’s support for any new sanctions will hinge on Commission plans to ease pressure on European manufacturers and bring down energy costs.
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