Home › Archive › In the Media › Denník N | Will Fico Block the Sanctions? So Far, Even Viktor Orbán Hasn't Dared to Do ThatDenník N | Will Fico Block the Sanctions? So Far, Even Viktor Orbán Hasn't Dared to Do That
If the Slovak Prime Minister were to vote against the sanctions, he could block the renewal of the entire sanctions package. In July, the package is set to expire, including measures such as restricting Russian banks’ access to the SWIFT system and banning pro-Russian media from the European market. This was commented on for Deník N by Zuzana Krulichová, an analyst at the Institute for European Policy EUROPEUM.
5. June 2025
There are certain legal loopholes in the discussion, and negotiations are underway to prevent such a scenario. But in principle, it remains true that a single member state can block the extension of sanctions. Technically, however, it's more complicated — sanctions are not voted on all at once, but approximately four times a year, as each package is renewed every six months. So not all sanctions would expire at once this July.
If, for example, Hungary and Slovakia were to oppose the sanctions, 25 member states could still impose them in some form. Another option is to seek compromises or to increase pressure on the representatives of Hungary and Slovakia — for instance, through the negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework.
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