Unfortunately, no EP mandate for the Czech Greens The Czech Greens (Strana zelených, SZ) were not counting on such a poor result in the recent EP elections. SZ won just 2.06 % of the vote and ended up in ninth place.
Ways out of the Crisis in Europe The global economic and financial crisis, already a reality of everyday political life, has also become the main topic of the elections for the European Parliament – here in the Czech Republic as well. The same voices who have been warning that intensified European integration threatens the national sovereignty of the Member States – leading Czech politicians among them in particular – are now demanding solidarity and a coherent, consistent EU in relation to the crisis
The influence of the EU on developments in Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic: 1989-2009 It is useful to divide the history of relations between the European Union and the Czech Republic (and previously with Czechoslovakia) into several periods. The first period was that of “courtship”, which lasted from 1989-1995, the second that of the accession process during 1995-2003, and the third that of membership, which began in 2004 and is ongoing.
The no confidence vote and the Czech government: Circumstances and prospects On Tuesday 24 March 2009 the Czech lower house passed a vote of no confidence in the Czech government. The proposal, made by the opposition Social Democrats (ČSSD), received 101 votes in favor and 96 against. The news began to spread immediately through the international media like an avalanche. This was quite understandable, as the Czech Republic will preside over the European Union until the end of June 2009.
Five years of an enlarged EU: Where is Eastern Europe? Five years after the enlargement of the EU in 2004 and 20 years after the political revolutions in Central and Eastern Europe, we should have plenty of reasons to celebrate. Instead, the threat of a new division of Europe is now being discussed. When, after the extraordinary EU summit at the start of March, headlines ran such as “Rejection of solidarity assistance for Eastern Europe”, many Czechs were outraged. After all, the Czech Republic is not part of Eastern Europe.
Europe without Barriers: Depends on for Whom The primary slogan of the Czech EU Presidency is “Europe without Barriers”. However, the current political representatives of the country primarily want to remove barriers i the areas of trade and business. Equal opportunities, mainly those concerning women and men, are perceived by the main coalition party ODS primarily as “positive discrimination” that restricts the “free market”. Many non-governmental organizations are of a different opinion, namely, that the policy of equal opportunities for women and men facilitates free choice by breaking down societal prejudices and barriers.
The Czech Republic, France, and the Passing of the Presidency Baton Ever since the most recent wave of enlargement (at least), the European Union cannot exactly be described as an homogenous entente. The coexistence of 27 countries of such varied geopolitical and economic weight and with such different traditions of political culture can only occur on the basis of coalitions created to balance out their various interests and aims. The current EU Presidency trio of France, the Czech Republic and Sweden is more than instructive as concerns this problematic situation.
The role of the Czech EU-Presidency in the International Climate Negotiations International climate negotiations are in a crucial period now in the run-up to the COP 15 in Copenhagen. The EU is one of the key players in these negotiations and is expected to put forward new proposals on particular issues. It also has the opportunity and the obligation to strengthen the negotiations between various key players. The Czech Ministry of Environment is working very actively on the issue during the Czech EU-Presidency. Below you can find several press releases from the Czech Environment Ministry which give an insight into their work on international climate policy.
The Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU: Europe in Harmony? Rarely has the European public ever been quite this uncertain as to whether a Member State can handle the challenges connected with the presidency of the Council of the European Union. Most of the concern is over whether controversial Czech President Václav Klaus may attempt some sort of provocation.