The government of Slovakia says it is taking steps domestically and internationally to slow the potential rise in fuel prices and ensure that increases remain lower than in neighboring countries, while critics argue the measures are insufficient. After a cabinet meeting, President Peter Pellegrini said the situation was under control and praised the government for trying to stabilize prices without immediately using large amounts of public funds. He also warned that geopolitical tensions, including the war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East, are increasingly affecting energy security across Europe.
Prime Minister Robert Fico announced that the refinery Slovnaft would maintain a five-day self-regulation of fuel prices while the government monitors global developments, including tensions in Iran, the situation around the Strait of Hormuz, and the operation of the Druzhba pipeline. According to Fico, Slovakia aims to keep fuel prices lower than in Austria and comparable with other Visegrád Group countries. The prime minister added that several oil tankers have already been purchased and that the refinery has begun processing crude oil from the country’s strategic reserves.
Government officials also highlighted Slovakia’s exemption from the European Union ban on Russian oil imports, which allows the country to continue importing crude until 2027. Fico said the head of the European Commission confirmed that Slovakia has the right to receive Russian oil and called for repairs to the Druzhba pipeline so supplies can resume. The government argues that ensuring stable oil flows through the pipeline remains a key part of protecting the country’s energy security.
Opposition parties, however, criticized the meeting for producing no concrete solutions for citizens facing rising living costs. Michal Šimečka, head of Progressive Slovakia, said the government offered only temporary measures and political rhetoric instead of real action. Other critics pointed out that several European countries have already capped fuel prices or reduced excise taxes, while Slovakia has so far avoided such steps.
Additional criticism came from opposition figures including Július Jakab and Veronika Remišová, who argued that the five-day price self-regulation by Slovnaft is ineffective and accused the government of failing to protect consumers from rising gasoline and diesel prices. They also criticized President Pellegrini for defending the government instead of pushing for stronger measures such as price caps or tax reductions. Opposition leaders warned that without more decisive policies, Slovak drivers may continue to face some of the highest fuel prices in the region.
Source: TASR
