The World in Crisis - Manifesto for the Czech Presidency of the European Union In times of crisis, the poor suffer the most. The cumulative effects of global economic downturn, climate change, and energy and food crises call into question the entire economic model and policies of the past quarter of a century. And yet a world in multiple crisis opens windows of opportunity. More stable, equitable and sustainable economies are already springing up locally. To retain greater control over local food, energy and money, to achieve a stable climate and fairer consumption, a global vision of alternative economics and politics is also needed.
Schwarzenberg’s Mission to the Middle East The Czech EU Presidency has evidently begun more abruptly than the Czechs ever wanted. At the very moment the country took up the “scepter” of the presidency, the conflict between Hamas and Israel in Gaza was in full blaze, and the Czech Republic immediately had to engage in one of the most closely-followed world conflicts ever. It later proved that Czech politicians were not able to adopt the EU diplomatic language as their own immediately. Unlike the majority of Western European politicians, who stressed the opinion that Israel’s reaction was disproportionate, the first statements by the Czech Prime Minister and the Czech Foreign Minister clearly labeled Hamas as to blame for the conflict.
Grand plans, money and falls – seeking values and answers in the financial crisis The Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU comes at a watershed period. Europe and the world are being shaken by a global crisis. Many people agree, however, that the watershed concerns more than just the economic crisis. Every crisis is an opportunity for reflection and change. The current global financial crisis indicates that after 25 years a change in political thinking is once again impending. Coming into play are new forms of economics and politics, lifestyle and international order.
The Energy Presidency? Energy will indisputably be one of the leitmotifs of the Czech EU Presidency, but much will depend on how the government approaches the issue. It can either feverishly patch up existing “holes” or bring an ambitious plan for modernizing energy in the EU to the table.
Stumbling Blocks to the Adoption of the Lisbon Treaty by the Czech Republic In the months leading up to the start of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Czech and European media speculated on whether the Czech President and Prime Minister would overcome their mutual conflict and represent the country consistently. The first days of 2009 have shown that management of the Czech Presidency’s external communications is fully in the hands of the Prime Minister, but on matters requiring engagement in the domestic political debate, the Czech PM continues to lose for the time being. Ratification of the Lisbon Treaty by the Czech Parliament is one of these matters.
Missile defense: Postpone and re-evaluate The European (or “third”) pillar of missile defense is a planned component of the American national missile defense system, tasked with protecting the United States of America (and indirectly, their allies) from possible ballistic missile attack. The American missile defense system has been in development since the 1950s in various modifications, but it was not until the administration of the Republican President George W. Bush that it was expanded (President Clinton only supported a project for missile defense in combat - TMD). In 2001, the United States increased funding for missile defense and withdrew from the Soviet-American Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (the ABM treaty). That treaty, signed in 1972, restricted the distribution of missile defense capabilities.
Green Party successes in formulating governmental priorities In October 2007, the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic publicized the first version of its priorities for the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU. The materials were based on preparations which had begun immediately after the 2006 elections. The government, namely the Subdivision of the Deputy Minister for European Affairs (Útvar místopředsedy vlády pro evropské záležitosti - ÚMVEZ), was the body responsible for compiling the priorities and managing the commenting procedure.
Foreign relations priorities of the Czech Presidency The preparation of the priorities for the EU Presidency is a very long-term process. It involves not just representatives of the government and ministries, but also experts through their participation in professional groups. If these priorities are to be the right ones, they must not only be well-designed, they must also respond to current events in the world and in the EU itself.
The Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU In January 2009 the Czech Republic assumed the Presidency of the Council of the EU. The Presidency provides the Czech Republic with a unique opportunity to influence the agenda of the EU for six months. The task of the Czech Republic is to inspire and to moderate the debate among the 27 member states and to represent the EU externally
Radar issue shows the need for a generational transition in Czech politics In a recent lecture for the United States Institute for Peace, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the world cannot afford to continue to rely on recycled Cold War thinking. Unfortunately, the vast majority of Czech politicians and media think in Cold War terms, and as a result Czech society does as well. The cancellation of - or better said, the modification of - US plans for missile defense in Europe has revealed the inability of Czech political elites to liberate themselves from their fixation on the totalitarian experience, a fixation through which they continue to perceive and interpret current world events.