Vondra: Prague cannot lose right to hold EU presidency next year

The Czech Republic’s deputy prime minister for European Affairs, Alexandr Vondra, says speculation that the country could lose the right to hold the presidency of the European Union in the first half of next year is unfounded. Some European newspapers have suggested that given the current financial crisis and other issues facing the EU, France could extend its current presidency for at least six more months. However, Mr Vondra said EU rules precluded any such development. There has also been some suggestion that France could play a leading role in an informal Eurozone grouping, from which the Czech Republic, which has not adopted the common European currency, would be excluded. Mr Vondra said creating such a grouping would represent an unwise step which could divide the EU rather than unite it.

Author: Ian Willoughby