Archive: European Union | European Commission European Commission
EU criticizes Czech Republic for inefficiently drawing funds
In a document outlining the future priorities for EU funding for the Czech
Republic, the European Commission has criticized the influence of political
changes on government administration. The report also takes a strong stand
on the country’s insufficient efforts to develop a more competitive
economy. More
Czech EU commissioner-designate grilled by MEPs
Parliamentary hearings to assess the suitability of candidates for the new
European Commission are underway in Brussels with the spotlight now on
Štefan Füle, the Czech commissioner-designate for enlargement and
neighbourhood policy. Mr. Füle, an experienced career diplomat, is
generally seen as highly suitable for the post, but some members of the
European Parliament have questioned his communist past. More
European Commission competition office swoop turns up heat on ČEZ
European and Czech competition watchdogs have carried out raids on Czech
energy companies. The unprecedented action has been sparked by suspicions
that local electricity giant ČEZ has been using sharp practices to corner
the local market and increase prices.
More
Brussels summit should pave way for decision on Czech Commission portfolio
Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer flies into Brussels on Thursday for a
special meeting of government leaders to dole out the top jobs created by
the European Union’s Lisbon treaty. The share out of those top jobs
should pave the way for the formation of the next European Commission and
help clarify the post the Czech candidate will get on it. We look at what
is at stake at and after the Brussels summit.
More
Havel to MEPs: no contradiction in dual Czech, European identity
Former president Václav Havel gave a speech at the European Parliament on
Wednesday, and the reception was a marked contrast to that given to his
successor Václav Klaus earlier this year. Mr Havel received warm applause
from MEPs for his words on European identity and integration, and also
asked for Europe to be patient with its often troublesome newer members
from the former communist east.
More
Parties break stalemate over EU Commissioner as Füle chosen for job
The tortuous process of choosing a new European Commissioner is over –
the government announced on Tuesday that Europe Minister Štefan Füle
would be nominated to the five-year post. The breakthrough came after the
two major political parties – who control much of the decision-making in
the caretaker cabinet – finally agreed on an acceptable candidate. More
Czech Republic faces race to make nomination for new EU Commission
With the dust settling on the protracted Czech ratification of the EU’s
Lisbon treaty, politicians round Europe are getting to grips with some of
the stalled issues. One of them is the nomination of a new European
Commission and share out of the plum and not so plum posts. The Czech
government has made this a top priority but political parties are still
haggling about who should get the nomination.
More
Uncertainty surrounds Czech place on next European Commission
Some Czech politicians have warned that due to the postponement of general
elections, the Czech Republic might lose its seat on the European
Commission. If a candidate is picked by the current caretaker government,
they would have a weak mandate, according to the main Czech parties. But
Sweden, which now heads the EU, says the current Commission should stay in
place – until the future of the Lisbon treaty is clear.
More
Civic Democrats form new European Parliament bloc with Conservative MEPs
On Monday, the Civic Democrats announced that they had formed a new
‘anti-federalist’ European Parliament bloc with the British
Conservatives and Poland’s Law and Justice Party. Fans of the new
European Conservatives and Reformists Group say that it will enhance
democracy in Europe, while its detractors call it a motley mix of parties -
some with views verging on the extreme. The Czech Civic Democrats are the
third biggest party in the grouping, which consists of 55 MEPs from eight
different European states. Adéla Kadlecová is the Civic Democrats’
foreign policy section chief who was instrumental in the ECR’s founding:
More
Turnout takes central place in European elections
Europeans started voting Thursday in elections to the European Parliament
with citizens in Britain and the Netherlands leading the way in the
27-country poll. Czechs will vote over the weekend with one of the main
questions how far the country’s turbulent campaign will have helped
mobilise voters. More
+1
