Fico calls Merz's threat to block EU budget over Ukraine funding blackmail

Slovak Prime Minister's reaction to German Chancellor's remarks

Slovakia's government leader Robert Fico reacted sharply to public warnings from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. In Fico's view, Berlin's position, which threatens to block the adoption of the next multi-annual budget of the European Union, is an act of blackmail.

The cause of the conflict was Merz's statement that Germany may refrain from supporting the EU's financial plan if member states do not reach an agreement on participating in financing Ukraine.

The essence of the disagreements over credit guarantees

The disagreements concern, in particular, the provision of guarantees for European Union loans to Kyiv. Meanwhile, a group of states, including Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Bulgaria, refuses to participate in this financial scheme.

Consequences for the EU financial plan

Berlin's position is driven by the desire to ensure long-term financing for Ukraine and to distribute financial obligations among European Union states. However, the threat of blocking the budget creates a risk that the issue of supporting Kyiv may become one of the key obstacles to agreeing on the EU's financial plan for the next period.