Presidential woes
June 28, 2009
The first Czech presidency of the EU got off to an intense start in January, thanks to the conflict in Gaza and the dispute between Russia and Ukraine over gas supplies.
Yet the government of then-Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek won early praise, particularly for its diplomacy in the gas dispute.
Yet the government ran into trouble during the last week of March, when the Czech opposition succeeded in toppling Topolanek's government. The government was eventually replaced by an interim cabinet, but by then it had already become, in the eyes of many, something of a lame duck.
That view is disputed by Stefan Fule, Europe minister in the new caretaker government, who described the Czech's six-month presidency as "very successful."
Strong player crucial
Political analyst Jiri Pehe says the failures of the Czech presidency provide a strong argument in favor of the EU's Lisbon treaty. If passed, the reform treaty would reduce the significance of the revolving presidency. Pehe believes that the current system only works if a strong player is in charge.
"The moment you have at the helm of the EU a newcomer, a weak country, moreover a country that has domestic problems, and at the same time you are supposed to have some kind of European leadership, you have a problem," Pehe says.
The Czech parliament approved the EU's Lisbon treaty earlier this year, though the eurosceptic Czech president Vaclav Klaus is so far refusing to put his signature to ratification.
Jury still out?
Others say it is too early to make any judgments, as several issues taken up under the Czech presidency will not lead to concrete results for some time, if ever. These include guarantees for Ireland over the Lisbon treaty, the Eastern Partnership project, and plans for the Nabucco gas pipeline.
"Whether they might overshadow the negative experience with the fall of the government will depend on the success of those particular projects, which the Czech presidency was supporting," says Ivo Slosarcik of the think-tank Europeum.
Perhaps history will after all be kinder to the Czech EU presidency than present day commentators. For now, many in Europe will be somewhat relieved when the Swedes take the helm on July 1.
Author: Ian Willoughby
Editor: Andreas Illmer