Jakl: President Klaus has no ambition to speak for Europe during Czech EU presidency

In related news, Vaclav Klaus’s secretary, Ladislav Jakl, has said that the president ‘has no ambition’ to represent and speak on behalf of the European Union during the Czech Republic’s EU presidency which starts on January 1. Mr Jakl told the public broadcaster Czech Television that the president would strive to decentralise the European Union as much as possible during the Czechs’ time at the helm. Mr Jakl said that unless it was a great power like France or Germany leading the EU, in whose hands the European presidency lay had little practical significance. The European media this week has been suggesting that French President Nicolas Sarkozy may want to minimise the Czech Republic’s role during the country’s EU presidency next year.

Author: Rosie Johnston