A new semester

“France worked hard”. During the second semester 2008 “unexpected events have been tackled: the war between Russia and Georgia, the financial crisis. The approach taken by the Eu presidency, finding an agreement among all the Members States, is for me a source of inspiration”. Czech Republic’s prime Minister, Mirek Topolanek, will take the leadership of the 27 Eu Members from January 1st. It is useless to deny, that the role has led to uncertainty among the Community environment, due to Prague’s lack of “Euro-enthusiasm”. Not by chance, together with Ireland, it is the only country that still hasn’t ratified the Lisbon Treaty. The prime Minister is however certain to be able to work well and has involved the nation’s best political and diplomatic protagonists.Motto and “the three E’s”. “Europe without barriers”: this is the motto chosen by the Czech Republic Presidency during the January/July 2009 semester marking EU’s four fundamental traditional freedoms: free movement of people, capitals, goods and services. “Symbolically we will add a fifth one – Mr. Topolanek explains – free movement of information and knowledge”. On the eve of his appointment, the prime Minister said ” he has been preparing for this event for two years”. The priorities of the Czech Presidency can be summed up with “the three E’s “: “Economy, Energy and External Relations”. The future head of the European Council reminds that the six month plan has still not been disclosed in details “to respect the current presidency”; furthermore the program will mirror part of the 18 month calendar agreed upon with the French and Swedish government, who will lead the European Council during the last semester of 2009. In the meantime the semester’s calendar has been laid out. Besides some preparatory meetings, held in December mainly diplomatic and “Sherpa”, the first official meeting is set for January 7, during the operational confrontation with the EU Commission. Tight Agenda. The Czech government’s formal appearance on the scene will take place somewhere between January 12 to 15, during the European Parliament session in Strasbourg: Mr. Topolanek will be asked to illustrate his programme to the Members of Parliaments, gathering points of view, critics and suggestions by the political groups. The semester will be marked by two summits: one on March 19-20 (on economic, social and environmental issues) and another on June 18-19 (on political and institutional topics). The Czech Republic will mainly be leading the EU during the preparation of the EU Parliament elections, set on June 4-7. After having the certainty that by that date the Reform Treaty defined by the EU in Lisbon will not be enforced, we wonder how the European citizens’ attention can be spurred, leading them to cast their vote in order to provide the largest democratic bases to the Assembly.Prague, Brno, Luhacovice. In the meantime the Presidency is not idling away: its emissaries in Brussels explained that ” already 14 informal ministerial meetings have been set besides the ones of Council of ministers (agriculture, finance, culture, environment, social affaires…) and participation to Parliamentary sessions.” These informal meetings will be held in the main cities of the East Europe country such as Prague, Brno, Luhacovice and others: EU’s challenges are increasing and “permanent concerted action” is spreading throughout the community. This is also part of President Sarkozy’s legacy. The Czech prime Minister goes back to “the three E’s ” and focuses on economy, aimed at “increasing competition, strengthening confidence of market economy and especially of consumers and small and medium enterprises” and “improving employment rate”. Lisbon and Euro-sceptics. The future head of the European Council will also tackle the most difficult issues, such as un-ratified Lisbon treaty and criticism against the Treaty by the President of the Republic. “The Treaty will continue its way to ratification – he explains – Ireland will hold a new referendum and it can take place during the Czech Presidency. In our country, instead, the Constitutional Court has ruled on six articles of the Treaty and hasn’t revealed contrast to our fundamental Charter. Thus, it resumed its path and the members of Parliament will vote next February 3”. In the meantime Mr. Topolank deems the internal anti-Lisbon positions supported also by President Vaclav Kluas as a “disaster”, even if legitimate and “positive for the debate on future Europe”.