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Current AffairsCzech Republic comes under fire from France for delaying ratification of Lisbon Treaty
France took up the rotating EU presidency on Tuesday amidst increasing
concerns over the fate of the Lisbon Treaty. Polish President Lech
Kaczynski unexpectedly announced he would not sign the treaty following its
rejection by Ireland and there is concern over the stands of Germany and
the Czech Republic where lawmakers have asked their constitutional courts
to review the document, delaying its ratification. President Sarkozy pulled
out the big guns on Monday night, saying that France would make the
treaty’s ratification its top priority and dealing the Czechs a sharp
rebuke for delaying the process, especially in view of their pending EU
presidency. Czech officials who are expected to cooperate closely with
France in meeting long-term EU goals have reacted coolly to the criticism,
saying it was unwarranted. I asked political analyst Jiří Pehe whether
this latest cross-fire – and the country’s differing views could hamper
close cooperation on EU ground.
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Current AffairsSarkozy fails to move indifferent Czechs in bid to keep Lisbon alive
The French president Nicolas Sarkozy came to Prague on Monday, a trip that
had been planned long in advance but happened to fall on the first working
day after the people of Ireland voted ‘No’ to the EU’s Lisbon Treaty.
The Czech Republic is one of eight countries that still haven’t ratified
the treaty, and the country is seen by many as the biggest obstacle in the
path of reviving the ill-fated EU reform project.
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Current AffairsJan Palach’s statue to remain in France
When French President Nicolas Sarkozy packs his bags for a working visit to
Prague next week he’ll be taking much less than anticipated. A giant
bronze statue of Jan Palach which was to have accompanied him to Prague as
a gift to the Czech government is to remain in Paris.
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Current AffairsCzech, French, Swedish ministers meet in Prague before joint 18-month presidency
The Czech Republic inches ever closer to January 1st, 2009, when – for
the first time – it will take the helm of the European Union. The agenda
for the EU presidency over the next eighteen months will be shared between
France, the Czech Republic and Sweden, and the deputy minister for
European
affairs Alexandr Vondra is hosting his French and Swedish colleagues this
week to put the finishing touches to a 70-page document setting out EU
policy. More
Current AffairsPavel Tigrid honoured in Paris
A special plaque has been unveiled in Paris in honour of the late
journalist Pavel Tigrid - one of the most influential Czech personalities
of the twentieth century. More
