The move signals a warming in ties between Prague and Bratislava after years of differences over energy policy, particularly Slovakia’s continued reliance on Russian supplies and the fallout from disruptions to oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline. By contrast, the Czech Republic began cutting its dependence on Russian energy after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, although the new Babiš government has since taken a more skeptical line on EU energy and Ukraine policy than its predecessor. Although the memorandum’s exact terms have not yet been made public, the meeting underlined the increasingly close political relationship between Babiš and Fico, who are seen as aligned on several regional issues at a time when Hungary is heading into a closely watched parliamentary election.
