The proposed new anti-Russian sanctions also include a 500-percent tariff on countries that buy Russian energy. This could have serious consequences for the Slovak economy. Several studies have confirmed that alternatives to Russian energy are available.

The REPowerEU regulation, which aims to end imports of Russian pipeline gas and LNG, is nearing a final agreement. Here is an overview of the path to a full ban—from the legislative marathon in autumn 2025 to the complete prohibition in 2028.

Europe will negotiate rules in the coming weeks that will shape its industry for the next decade. In this game involving hundreds of billions of euros, Slovakia should not stand aside—it is an opportunity to secure more funding for smaller countries and set favorable rules for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Even though Brussels has slowed the pace and companies received a delay in reporting sustainability data, market pressure has not eased. Banks, shareholders, and customers continue to demand the information— increasingly using it as a condition for collaboration or better loan terms.