Slovak PM rebukes German chancellor over talk of EU punishment

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's recent remarks regarding potential European Union sanctions against Slovakia have sparked sharp criticism from Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Speaking on May 27, Fico condemned Merz’s comments as “unacceptable in modern Europe,” Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Fico accused Merz of pushing for a “policy of one single opinion,” warning that such an approach signals “the end of democracy.” The Slovak leader firmly denied any wrongdoing on Slovakia’s part, stating that his country has not violated rule-of-law principles. He expressed readiness for dialogue and indicated he would be willing to meet Merz in person if necessary.

The backdrop to this dispute is Merz’s toughening stance against Slovakia and Hungary for their persistent obstruction of EU sanctions targeting Russia amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war. Merz has suggested punitive actions against these countries, including the potential withdrawal of European Union funding.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has opposed sending military aid to Kyiv. Instead, he has advocated for peace talks that would effectively freeze the conflict and cement Moscow’s control over occupied Ukrainian territories. Similarly, Fico of Slovakia has regularly blocked or weakened EU measures designed to aid Ukraine and sanction Russia, positioning himself as another pro-Russian voice within the bloc.

On 26 May, speaking at the WDR-Europaforum, Merz criticised both governments for their “restraining role” in EU sanctions enforcement. He warned: “We will not be able to avoid a conflict with Hungary and Slovakia if this course continues.” Highlighting that these two governments represent only a “small minority” among the 27 EU member states, Merz expressed frustration that their veto powers have been used to block or dilute sanctions efforts.

“We cannot allow the decisions of the entire European Union to depend on a small minority,” Merz stated firmly. He explained that the EU has multiple legal and financial tools at its disposal to increase pressure on Budapest and Bratislava, including infringement proceedings for rule-of-law breaches and the possible suspension of EU funding.

Merz clarified: “But there is always the option of withdrawing European funds from them.” While he insisted that he does not seek confrontation, he emphasised that if necessary, “we will deal with them.” The German chancellor also revealed he had held direct talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán the previous week.

By Tamilla Hasanova