Prague urged Bratislava to revoke emergency energy measures, proposing reverse oil flows and coordinated EU action to stabilise supplies.
Czechia has asked Slovakia to lift the state of emergency in the energy sector, introduced after the suspension of Russian oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline, and calls for a joint European solution to the energy crisis.
Prime Minister Andrej Babiš of the Czech Republic announced this at a press conference after the joint intergovernmental meeting.
At the joint meeting of the Czech and Slovak governments in Nový Jičín, Babiš addressed his Slovak colleague Robert Fico with a request to end the state of emergency in the oil sector.
“We have agreed on how we will act together. This concerns fuel and energy. I hope the Bratislava Oil Refinery will operate; it is already repaying a loan from material reserves, and the situation will normalize”
– Andrej Babiš
According to him, the fuel issue should be resolved within the V4 format together with Austria and Germany. He also stressed the need to persuade the EU of the advisability of decoupling gas prices from electricity prices.
Fico replied that Slovakia will lift the state of emergency as soon as the conditions are met, and again criticized the European Commission and Ukraine’s position, accusing Kyiv of political motives behind the transit halt.
Returning the Druzhba pipeline to operation, in his words, would help stabilize the oil situation in Central Europe.
“Why hasn’t the Druzhba oil pipeline been restored? We have a simple solution to ensure Europe has enough oil”
– Robert Fico
Following the meeting, intergovernmental agreements included a number of documents: a Memorandum on Enhanced Cooperation, a Memorandum on joint responsibility for the withdrawal of gas from the Horní Bojanovice reservoirs, and a Memorandum of Understanding and cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
According to official sources, the Czech Republic proposed launching a reverse flow of oil to Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline.
Outlook for Coordinated Energy Policy
After the meeting, both governments confirmed their readiness to continue joint steps in energy management and stabilizing supplies in Central Europe.
Participants emphasized the importance of engaging with the EU and using alternative supply routes to minimize the impact of global fluctuations on the domestic energy sectors of the countries.
Overall, the meeting demonstrated the political will of both sides to coordinate actions to reduce dependence on individual routes and to ensure the stability of the region’s energy market.
Ultimately, both countries expressed willingness to continue cooperation to jointly address the energy crisis and ensure uninterrupted oil and gas supplies for the region.