Prague, Visegrád Group, and the European Union
The Czech Republic’s Goals as President of the EU Council
Elsa Tulmets, Jan Karlas, Michal Kořan
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
The Czech Republic takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on January 1, 2009. Prague aims to deepen the integration of the single market, improve co-operation with the EU’s neighbours to the east, and suggest solutions for matters of energy policy. It does not have the other Visegrád states – Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia – on its side for all of its plans. These states have different positions, in particular with regard to energy policy and the liberalisation of the electricity and gas markets. The Czech Republic risks provoking misunderstandings with its Visegrád partners, but in doing so qualifies itself as mediator.
(Osteuropa 7/2008, pp. 153–195)