Dancing House in Prague
Does the Czech Republic have the most difficult EU presidency ever? It certainly looks that way. Just what country would choose to be saddled with the twin pressures of trying to keep the lid on economic nationalism and on French president Nicolas Sarkozy.
Even before it took over running the EU on 1 January, Prague’s starting point was enough to bring big member states out in a rash of prejudicial hives. It is small, new, ex-communist and has not ratified the latest EU treaty.
In addition, it virtually had to wrestle the EU presidency from Paris, which clearly thought it should carry on.
But Prague is going about this whole six-month presidency business with something of a sledgehammer.
Usually, small country presidencies suffer for their lack of political weight but make up for it by being discreet and running a tight ship. Large countries swagger more but have the clout to get people around the table.
The Czech EU presidency however has been a marvel of indiscretion. Czech leader Mirek Topolanek can be counted on to offer an opinion – usually controversial – on the burning topic of the moment.
His public spat with French president Nicolas Sarkozy over protectionism was extremely damaging, even if Sarkozy’s comments that French car companies should not set up in countries such as the Czech Republic were provocative.
Topolanek also had harsh words about eurozone countries telling an online chat discussion on the official presidency website that euro members were “deforming” their own rules by allowing increased spending.
He has more than once criticised the EU Lisbon Treaty as being no better than the current Nice Treaty and given his full support to a controversial speech by Czech president Vaclav Klaus criticising the EU’s democratic deficit and comparing the bloc with the Soviet Union.
Most recently, following a meeting of the EU’s six richest member states in Berlin on Sunday, he told reporters that there were big divergences in the views of France, UK, Germany and Italy on how to approach the financial crisis.
And while there is something commendable about being frank, there are good times and bad times to be so blunt. As current EU presidency country and during a time of unprecedented economic crisis for the European Union, a little more discretion is called for.
It would also mean that it would be easier to believe that the Czech Republic will be able to forge a consensus on the problems facing Europe as Topolanek has claimed he wants to do.
#1 by Hubert on March 1, 2009 - 10:44 pm
I agree with that post. The Czech Republic have demonstrated how problematic they like to be : as if they have choose to outrage the EU as much as they could, just to balance their small size. Anyway, this will pass, and we have to live together, Czechs included. (but, really, how can they be so unelegant ?)
#2 by arianna on March 10, 2009 - 5:22 pm
It clearly doesn’t take much to “outrage” the EU – the mere sniff of criticism will do. As for comments questioning a “good time” to be “frank” – frankly, openness and honesty does not seem to figure in the EU lexicon. Vaclav Klaus and Topolank seem to be the only European leaders in a long long time who have the courage to be frank and blunt.
#3 by Buy to let mortgages on April 27, 2009 - 11:43 pm
From the moment Czechs joined EU, we could see that they are not going to sit quiet and listen. Over the years we got used to the idea, that they are not afraid to raise their voice and are not going to do something if they don’t believe is right, like Euro. But I don’t see it as a bad thing, quite the opposite as we need more members to be active, being able to participate in open discussions to drive EU forward.
#4 by cat items on June 18, 2009 - 9:44 pm
The Czech Republic have demonstrated how problematic they like to be : as if they have choose to outrage the EU as much as they could, just to balance their small size.
#5 by vailu on August 15, 2009 - 9:55 pm
wow.. cool..
#6 by Vaser lipo on August 31, 2009 - 4:40 pm
I like the building in your picture. For an architectural point of view, it is quite outstanding. (Sorry to derail the comments but my architecture background can’t help but comment)
#7 by brianS on November 4, 2009 - 5:44 pm
The Chezch republic is really pushing the EUs buttons here, I think she should back off a little bit
#8 by lowes coupon on December 4, 2011 - 6:19 am
I am not reading your entire article but the picture on your post is amazing
#9 by Johan on December 4, 2011 - 12:14 pm
It is clear that the politicians of the large countries value honesty even less than the politicians of small states. It’s a pity that Sarkozy et al are offended by the truth, but maybe this way they’ll learn how we, in the smaller countries, see them.
Asking for discretion usually means that someone has to hide something ugly from the light. We don’t need more discretion and diplomacy … we need more light to uncover the ugly politics of the large EU countries.