Slovakia has obtained concessions in the European Union’s draft regulation that aims to end Russian gas imports by autumn 2027. According to Economy Minister Denisa Sakova, the provisional agreement reached between the Council of the EU and the European Parliament now allows Slovakia to continue using its long-term gas supply contract with Russia for an additional two years. The forthcoming regulation does not include a ban on Russian oil imports, she added.
Minister Sakova stated that Slovakia will finalize its national gas supply diversification strategy by March 2026. The proposed EU regulation introduces a legally binding ban on imports of both liquefied natural gas (LNG) and pipeline gas from Russia. The LNG ban is expected to take effect at the end of next year, while the deadline for halting all Russian gas supplies is set for 30 September 2027, with full enforcement no later than 1 November.
She explained that regional infrastructure upgrades must be completed before that deadline to ensure Slovakia can rely on alternative sources. Negotiations are already underway with Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Greece to secure access to LNG supplies from the United States. She emphasized that gas prices and transmission fees for households and industry will be decisive factors as the transition proceeds.
The Minister reiterated Slovakia’s long-standing concerns, arguing that the European Commission’s original proposal was driven by ideology and posed risks for supply security. Slovakia depends heavily on transit routes for its gas deliveries, and Russian gas still accounts for roughly one-third of the country’s total supply.
