Jorgensen Praises Open Discussion with Fico, Sakova to Hold Negotiations with EC

Brussels, January 10 (TASR-correspondent) - EU Commissioner for Energy Dan Jorgensen announced on Thursday (January 9) on the X platform that he and Slovak Premier Robert Fico had "had a good and open discussion on the energy situation and wider implications of the end of the transit of Russian gas via Ukraine," TASR has learnt from its Brussels correspondent. "We will continue discussing closely these issues, at both political and technical level, between Slovakia and the European Commission," wrote Jorgensen, thus confirming statements made by Fico at a news conference earlier on that day. Fico mentioned the setting up of a working group in which Slovakia's interests will be represented by Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD). The minister also took part in negotiations with EU Commissioner Jorgensen and representatives of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Energy in Brussels on Thursday. Jorgensen in his post stressed that while there's no problem with the security of gas supplies for the EU, he discussed Slovakia's economic concerns at a bilateral meeting with Fico, adding that he and the Slovak premier had prepared a joint statement on this issue. "We had a good and open discussion on the energy situation and wider implications of the end of the transit of Russian gas via Ukraine. We will continue discussing closely these issues, at both political and technical level, between Slovakia and the European Commission. In this context, we have agreed to set up a High-Level Working Group to follow up and identify options based on a joint assessment of the situation and see how the EU can help," reads a joint statement issued by Jorgensen and Fico in English. In this context, the Slovak premier stated that his government is ready to "put all its energy into it" for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Sakova told journalists in Brussels that her ministry did its utmost last year to ensure that gas supplies continued to be transported through Ukraine, adding that her ministry hasn't lost this hope. "We want Slovaks and Slovak industry to have enough energy at affordable prices. We're ready for this season and this year, we have enough gas in the reservoirs, and we have signed diversification contracts for gas supplies via various transit networks. No, we are not giving up, quite the opposite is true: we will continue to negotiate, including at the level of the European Commission, with the Ukrainians, and with other partners, to restore gas supplies and transit via Ukraine," said Sakova, adding that other central-European countries would benefit from restoring gas supplies via this route as well. ko/df