Czech Republic behind the Steering Wheel of the European Union: Exploring Challenges and Opportunities of the First Czech EU Presidency

The Czech Republic will be only the second of the EU members that joined in 2004 to preside over what is viewed as the most powerful and influential institution within the European structures in the Council. While technical preparations have been well underway for several years, the current politica...

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Main Author: David Kral
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: European Institute of Romania 2008-12-01
Series:Romanian Journal of European Affairs
Subjects:
Online Access:https://rjea.ier.gov.ro/wp-content/uploads/articole/RJEA_Vol8_No4_Czech_Republic_behind_the_Steering_Wheel_of_the_European_Union_Exploring_Challenges_and_Opportunities_of_the_First_Czech_EU_Presidency.pdf
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author David Kral
author_facet David Kral
author_sort David Kral
collection DOAJ
description The Czech Republic will be only the second of the EU members that joined in 2004 to preside over what is viewed as the most powerful and influential institution within the European structures in the Council. While technical preparations have been well underway for several years, the current political constellation inside the EU seems to be leaving certain signs of nervousness among Prague-based decision makers. The uncertainty surrounding the future of the Lisbon Treaty with the Irish ‘no’ and uncompleted ratification in the Czech Republic itself, recent controversy between the EU and Russia and not least highly complicated political situation at home are all likely to have an impact on the first, and – in the current form – perhaps also the last Czech presidency of the EU. This article will try to have a look at a critical assessment of the preparations for the Czech presidency, various factors, both internal and external, that are likely to influence its execution, as well as at its priorities as they are tabled at the moment.
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spelling doaj-art-481c26651d1e4cc9874ee2e4d14e400b2025-08-20T03:28:38ZengEuropean Institute of RomaniaRomanian Journal of European Affairs1582-82711841-42732008-12-01843648Czech Republic behind the Steering Wheel of the European Union: Exploring Challenges and Opportunities of the First Czech EU PresidencyDavid Kral0Director of EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy in PragueThe Czech Republic will be only the second of the EU members that joined in 2004 to preside over what is viewed as the most powerful and influential institution within the European structures in the Council. While technical preparations have been well underway for several years, the current political constellation inside the EU seems to be leaving certain signs of nervousness among Prague-based decision makers. The uncertainty surrounding the future of the Lisbon Treaty with the Irish ‘no’ and uncompleted ratification in the Czech Republic itself, recent controversy between the EU and Russia and not least highly complicated political situation at home are all likely to have an impact on the first, and – in the current form – perhaps also the last Czech presidency of the EU. This article will try to have a look at a critical assessment of the preparations for the Czech presidency, various factors, both internal and external, that are likely to influence its execution, as well as at its priorities as they are tabled at the moment.https://rjea.ier.gov.ro/wp-content/uploads/articole/RJEA_Vol8_No4_Czech_Republic_behind_the_Steering_Wheel_of_the_European_Union_Exploring_Challenges_and_Opportunities_of_the_First_Czech_EU_Presidency.pdfeu presidencyczech republicenlargementeuropean neighbourhood policy
spellingShingle David Kral
Czech Republic behind the Steering Wheel of the European Union: Exploring Challenges and Opportunities of the First Czech EU Presidency
Romanian Journal of European Affairs
eu presidency
czech republic
enlargement
european neighbourhood policy
title Czech Republic behind the Steering Wheel of the European Union: Exploring Challenges and Opportunities of the First Czech EU Presidency
title_full Czech Republic behind the Steering Wheel of the European Union: Exploring Challenges and Opportunities of the First Czech EU Presidency
title_fullStr Czech Republic behind the Steering Wheel of the European Union: Exploring Challenges and Opportunities of the First Czech EU Presidency
title_full_unstemmed Czech Republic behind the Steering Wheel of the European Union: Exploring Challenges and Opportunities of the First Czech EU Presidency
title_short Czech Republic behind the Steering Wheel of the European Union: Exploring Challenges and Opportunities of the First Czech EU Presidency
title_sort czech republic behind the steering wheel of the european union exploring challenges and opportunities of the first czech eu presidency
topic eu presidency
czech republic
enlargement
european neighbourhood policy
url https://rjea.ier.gov.ro/wp-content/uploads/articole/RJEA_Vol8_No4_Czech_Republic_behind_the_Steering_Wheel_of_the_European_Union_Exploring_Challenges_and_Opportunities_of_the_First_Czech_EU_Presidency.pdf
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