NEW WEEK, SAME BLOCKAGE: Slovakia’s Robert Fico said he will meet Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday as he escalates threats to block the EU’s €90 billion emergency loan for Ukraine – a veto previously wielded only by Hungary. Already blocking the 20th Russia sanctions package, Fico said Slovakia would help repair the Druzhba oil pipeline after Kyiv said it was damaged in a Kremlin-ordered drone strike.
“The most important message will be that Slovakia is ready to take over the baton from Hungary, if necessary,” Fico said, calling his threat to veto the EU loan a “legitimate tool” to restore oil flows. Both leaders will attend Tuesday’s nuclear energy summit in Paris. A one-on-one meeting could help Fico domestically and provide the off-ramp he needs to climb down. Or not.
You’re reading Rapporteur on Monday 9 March. This is Eddy Wax, joined by Nicoletta Ionta as we make our way to Strasbourg despite Belgian train strikes.
Need-to-knows:
🟢 The European left’s…
