According to Prime Minister Robert Fico, the countries of the Visegrád Group (V4) – Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary – will block the introduction of ETS 2 emission allowances. The Prime Minister has tasked Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár (Smer) with convening a meeting with his counterparts from the other V4 countries and has also announced a meeting at the level of heads of government.
ETS 2 is a new European emissions trading system that would include fuels for households and transport. Until now, emission quotas have only applied to large factories and power plants. On Tuesday, the Slovak Parliament plans to vote on a resolution expressing its strong disagreement with the expansion of the emissions trading system. According to Slovak MPs, the new system could increase energy poverty and threaten social stability in the country.
Prime Minister Fico warned that introducing ETS 2 would mean higher costs for households – more expensive gas, fuel, and travel. He described the system as nonsensical and said that previous governments, led by Eduard Heger (OĽaNO) and Ľudovít Ódor (now PS), which supported the measure in 2022 and 2023, are responsible for its approval. Fico confirmed that the V4 countries will block its implementation in practice.
Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár confirmed that he will prepare the necessary negotiations. According to him, the V4 has always cooperated in areas of common interest, and the issue of emission allowances is one of them.
“The V4 has always worked together where our interests align. The issue of emission allowances is clearly one of those areas,” Blanár said.
Opposition figures were quick to respond. Igor Matovič, leader of the Slovakia movement, pointed out that it was Smer’s own MEPs who did not oppose the ETS system in the past.
Beáta Jurík, vice-chair of the Parliamentary Committee for European Affairs from Progressive Slovakia (PS), argued that the government’s warnings about high costs are exaggerated.
Meanwhile, the European Commission has already proposed changes to the allowance system to ensure a more stable and predictable price. The proposal came in response to a letter sent in early June by the Czech Republic, co-signed by 18 other EU member states, including Slovakia.
Source: Rádiožurnál, Slovak Radio
