It's difficult to calculate the exact impact of the EU's sanctions against Russia on Slovakia, Economy Ministry spokesperson Miriam Žiaková stated. “The development will depend on several factors, mainly whether the current export and import contracts of Slovak companies are carried out or not, and whether Russia will introduce retaliatory measures or not,” said Žiaková.
Also, it's difficult to assess whether sanctions in the financial sector will or won't cause problems with carrying out co-funding contracts with Russian banks. The Slovak Food Chamber (PKS) is concerned with the current development of relations between Russia, Ukraine and the EU and potential backlash regarding the stability of the domestic market, said PKS President Daniel Poturnay on Thursday. Poturnay spoke in reaction to the Russian embargo on imports of Polish fruits and vegetables imposed on Wednesday, 30 July. “PKS doesn't view the ill-advised introduction of sanctions [against Russia] as prudent with respect to the fragile economic growth and stability of domestic market whether at the EU level or that of Slovakia. Russian embargo on fruits and vegetable imports not only from Ukraine but now Poland too, coupled with doubling of duty-free export quotas for Moldovan apples, plums and grapes can have serious impact on the Slovak market in this field as well,” warned Poturnay.
