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Current AffairsCzech Republic to pursue EU enlargement to the Balkans during its six months presidency
The Czech Republic is due to take up the rotating EU presidency at the
start of 2009 – at a particularly challenging time. The prospects of EU
enlargement to include western Balkan countries are a point of controversy
with some members fearing instability from the region and others pointing
out that until the Lisbon Treaty is in force the EU should not take on more
members. Michaela Jelínková from the Government’s Office for European
Affairs outlines some of the challenges ahead and explains why the Czech
Republic is committed to pushing ahead with EU expansion.
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Current AffairsCzech government recognises Kosovo’s independence
On Wednesday, the Czech government officially recognised Kosovo’s
independence and said it planned to establish diplomatic relations with
Pristina. The Czech Republic now joins a long line of EU member states to
have acknowledged the former Serbian province’s independence, but the
move has not been without controversy.
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Current AffairsCzech government hesitates to recognize Kosovo
The Czech Republic remains reserved towards recognizing Kosovo as an
independent country. After the former Serbian province proclaimed
independence on Sunday, Czech diplomats said they would wait for a common
EU strategy on the issue. But a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday
failed to reach any joint policy towards Kosovo, and the Czech Foreign
Ministry has set down its own conditions for the recognition of Kosovo.
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Current AffairsBalkans among Czech EU presidency foreign policy priorities
The Czech Republic has outlined several foreign policy priorities for its
EU presidency in 2009. Among those highlighted are the Union’s relations
with the Balkan states. As Czechs see it, the EUs visa policy for the
Balkans and other Eastern European countries should be softened, and if the
Czech government's ambitious plan succeeds, the Czech EU presidency should
also see Croatia a new member state of the European Union.
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Current AffairsCzech DNA-based test helping to identify war victims
A unique Czech DNA-based test has been helping to identify the remains of
victims who were murdered during the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina. One of the
Czech Republic's top experts in forensic genetics and one of the authors of
the method, Daniel Vanek headed a team of researchers in Bosnia between
2002 and 2004.
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Current AffairsCzechs to extend fast-track residency for 'qualified' Serb, Canadian, and Ukrainian workers
A recent study by the United Nations suggests that the Czech population
could shrink by an astonishing fifteen percent over the next half century.
This could translate to a shortage of over 420,000 workers on the Czech
labour market by the year 2030. One way the government is looking to
diffuse this pension "time bomb" is by creating a targeted
immigration policy. Brian Kenety has more.
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Current AffairsCzech government consolidates its role in EU security policy
The Czech government is increasingly taking a more pro-active role in the
external affairs of the European Union. One of the focal points of Czech
interest seems to be the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy, especially
in relation to consolidating peace in the Balkans. The Special Coordinator
of the EU Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe, Erhard Busek, visited
Prague this week in order to discuss future engagement of the Czech
Republic in the Balkans.
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Current AffairsCzechs and Serbs rediscover their old partnership
Relations between the Czech Republic and Serbia-Montenegro have a long
history. Both are Slav nations and their languages are similar. Their
predecessors - Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia - were very close allies in
the period between the two world wars, and something of the special
relationship has survived even after the tragic events of the 1990s as
Yugoslavia disintegrated. The Czech think tank, the Council for
International Relations, has decided to take a closer look at Czech-Serb
relations and organised a special debate on the subject. More
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