The gas crisis in January 2009 has also had positive effects. Everybody experienced what means the 98-percent dependence on one supplier. The reverse-flow supply of natural gas from the Czech Republic was a great example of European regional solidarity.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico made a working visit to Moscow, during which he met his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and the CEO of Russian gas concern Gazprom Alexei Miller. The main topic of the discussions were energy-related economic co-operation and other areas of bilateral co-operation.

The tension between Russia and Ukraine over gas supplies is growing, but a possible gas crisis would hit Slovakia with considerably less impact than the one at the beginning of the year, according to Karel Hirman from the Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency. Speaking about Slovakia's better level of preparedness, Hirman pointed to agreements concluded in the summer between Slovak gas utility Slovensky Plynarensky Priemysel and E.ON Ruhrgas, Gaz de France and VNG.