EU Faces Deepest Crisis in Its History, Slovak PM Says
Addressing a conference on affordable rental housing in Bratislava, Fico argued that mounting pressures on European households reflect a broader structural downturn across the bloc.
“The European Union has never been in such a crisis as it is now,” Fico said. He added that the turmoil is “not only about economic indicators, but also about leadership and vision.”
Fico cautioned that absent a unified strategy to bolster competitiveness, the EU could “become a cultural open air museum,” warning that the bloc risks losing further ground globally. He noted that regions including China are already 15-20 years ahead of the EU in critical sectors.
The Slovak leader has frequently challenged Brussels’ approach, particularly on energy policy and sanctions against Russia, arguing the measures are “only hurting” the bloc. Earlier this month, reacting to the European Commission’s 20th sanctions package, he said the EU should focus on resolving internal weaknesses rather than introducing new punitive steps against Moscow.
Fico also condemned the EU’s proposal to eliminate Russian gas imports entirely by November 2027, labeling the plan “suicide” for economies reliant on those supplies. He said Bratislava would initiate legal action against EU institutions over the matter.
The EU’s energy landscape shifted sharply after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, when Western sanctions and a steep drop in lower-cost Russian pipeline gas supplies sent wholesale energy prices soaring. The spike has driven up living costs and eroded industrial competitiveness across the bloc.
Fico, who survived an assassination attempt by a pro-Ukraine activist in 2024, has accused Kiev of systemic corruption, previously calling it a “black hole” that has absorbed billions of euros in EU funding. Last month, he urged the dismissal of EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, a prominent advocate of a hardline stance toward Russia.
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