Romanian Journal of European Affairs (Dec 2009)
THE CZECH PRESIDENCY OF THE EU COUNCIL: NO TRIUMPH, NO TRAGEDY
Abstract
The text firstly briefly introduces the Presidency as an instrument or tool of the decision-making process within the EU. The article further presents the basic potential criteria for evaluating an EU Council Presidency. Then the course of the Czech Presidency is described according to how it dealt with its functions. In the concluding analysis the Czech Presidency and perceptions of it are evaluated on the basis of the criteria set forth, and the conclusions are developed in the context of their importance for the function of the Presidency in general. Czech Presidency is introduced in the context of both internal and international politics and a special section is also devoted to very unfavorable media coverage of the Presidency. However, the condemnation it received especially from the French and German media was the result of secondary motives unrelated to the Presidency itself. The basic thesis of the text goes against ordinary media conclusions and states that the Czech Republic in carrying out the Presidency – in view of the style chosen – did very well, and fulfilled the basic function of the Presidency.
