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Summary of the Czech EU Presidency (2009)

Core Content

The Czech Republic assumed the rotating Presidency of the European Union on 1 January 2009, marking its first time in this role and following France. As a relatively new EU member state outside the eurozone, the Czech Republic faced a challenging period, both internationally and domestically, as the EU was still recovering from the 2008 global economic crisis and the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty remained stalled following the Irish 'no' vote.

Main Challenges

International Challenges

• Economic Crisis: The global economic downturn significantly reduced the EU's appetite for further internal market liberalization, a key goal of the Czech Presidency.
• Copenhagen Climate Summit: The Czech Republic aimed to support the post-Kyoto climate deal, but its efforts could be hindered by President Klaus's Eurosceptic stance.
• Russia-Georgia Conflict: The Czech government had to navigate a delicate balance in its relations with Russia, especially regarding the Georgian crisis and the South Stream gas pipeline.
• Gaza Conflict: The Czech Republic lacked the diplomatic leverage to effectively mediate the crisis, putting it at a disadvantage compared to France.
• Energy Security: The Czechs sought to reduce dependence on Russian energy, but this required careful diplomacy, especially with countries like Iran and the potential for conflict with Russia.

Domestic Challenges

• Lisbon Treaty Ratification: The Czech government postponed the vote in the Chamber of Deputies until 3 February 2009, due to internal political uncertainty and the need for a 3/5 majority.
• Presidential Influence: President Václav Klaus, a known Eurosceptic, was unlikely to play a major role in EU external relations but could influence domestic perceptions of the Presidency.
• Political Stability: The government had to manage internal party dynamics, particularly the split within the ODS between Topolánek and Klaus, which could affect the perception of the Czech Presidency.

Policy Priorities

The Czech government narrowed its priorities to three key areas during its Presidency:

1. Competitive Europe: Focus on simplifying legislation, reducing economic red tape, and enhancing the competitiveness of the EU economy.
2. Energy and Climate Change: Aimed to promote energy security and climate change initiatives, including the Copenhagen summit and the Nabucco gas pipeline project.
3. Open and Safe Europe: Emphasized crisis management, including the Gaza conflict and the gas pipeline crisis, as well as the enlargement of the EU to the Western Balkans.

External Relations Strategy

• Transatlantic Relations: The Czech Republic aimed to strengthen ties with the United States, especially under the Obama administration, by supporting the Copenhagen summit and EU-NATO cooperation.
• Eastern Partnership: The Czechs supported the initiative to engage with Eastern European countries (Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia), though the agenda remained unclear.
• Western Balkans Enlargement: The focus was on progressing the accession process with Croatia and advancing visa liberalization for FYROM and Montenegro. However, progress on Bosnia, Serbia, and Kosovo was expected to be limited.

Outlook

Despite the challenges, the Czech Presidency was seen as ambitious and pragmatic. The government was prepared to address major EU issues, including the Lisbon Treaty and the economic crisis. The end of the European Parliament and Commission terms provided an opportunity to shift focus from institutional negotiations to policy implementation in the Council. However, the unpredictable nature of President Klaus and the limited leverage in international crises could affect the effectiveness of the Czech Presidency.

Key Takeaways

• The Czech Presidency was set against a backdrop of global and EU-wide crises.
• Internal political dynamics, particularly between the government and President Klaus, posed a challenge to the success of the Presidency.
• The three policy priorities—competitive Europe, energy and climate, and open and safe Europe—were central to the Czech government’s agenda.
• The Presidency aimed to enhance EU energy security and transatlantic cooperation, but faced difficulties in achieving tangible outcomes due to geopolitical tensions and domestic constraints.
• The potential for a more constructive EU-Canada summit and the push for the Eastern Partnership were seen as opportunities for the Czech Republic to increase its visibility on the international stage.