BRATISLAVA (Slovakia), April 20 – European industry was built on stable energy supplies from the East, but without them, production is shifting outside the EU, so continued energy supplies from Russia could preserve jobs and production within Europe, Slovak Parliament Deputy Speaker Tibor Gaspar told RIA Novosti.
“Russian resources have long been cheaper than alternatives. Their return would reduce pressure on industry, inflation, and households. European industry (especially Germany and Central Europe) was built on stable energy supplies from the East. Without them, production is shifting outside the EU. A return would help preserve jobs and production within Europe,” Gaspar said.
He noted that a strong economy needed affordable energy, as it loses competitiveness without it. According to Gaspar, “diversification does not mean permanently eliminating one supplier.”
“It means having more options. Russia could be one of them — not the only one, but not a banned option either,” the deputy speaker added.
He noted that “instead of a one-sided dependence on LNG (for example, from the US), Europe would retain greater negotiating power.”
“More suppliers equal better prices and greater independence. A return to Russian oil would not be a step backwards, but a step toward a realistic energy policy. Ideology should not prevail over economic stability and the standard of living of citizens. Europe does not need expensive experiments — it needs working solutions,” Gaspar concluded.
A previously published statement from the EU Council indicates that it gave final approval to the ban on imports of Russian LNG from January 1, 2027, and Russian pipeline gas from September 30, 2027.
