Europeum

E15: Ukraine has been resisting Russian aggression for six months. A severe winter will test Western solidarity.

August 24, 2022

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has been going on for half a year. Despite constant fighting and pressure from Russia on Ukraine, the Russian Federation has failed to conquer Kiev. On the surface, it may appear that the war has stalled, but this is merely a deliberate tactic by Ukraine not to engage in major operations, but to wear down the Russian army. Western unity may be affected by new leadership in Italy and the UK, for example. However, the Czech Republic can play an important role, as it currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Our researcher Danielle Piatkiewicz also commented on the topic.

VISEGRAD/ISIGHT: Czechia and Slovakia lead the ways

August 23, 2022

Our senior researcher Jana Juzová wrote an article for VISEGRAD/INSIGHT on "The Czech Republic and Slovakia in the lead". Since July, the Czech Republic has held the presidency of the EU Council and Slovakia the presidency of the Visegrad Four. Although the V4 is now in the shadow of Czech and Slovak foreign policy, this does not mean that it is less important or that it is falling apart. However, the V4 crisis triggered by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán may be an opportunity for the Czech Republic and Slovakia to determine the direction of the Visegrad Four.

Deník N: Graduate or crisis manager? What the Czech Republic can (not) influence in the EU Council Presidency

July 07, 2022

Eighteen years after joining the European Union, the Czech Republic assumes the Presidency of the Council of the EU for the second time. Our Senior Research Fellows Vít Havelka and Kateřina Davidová commented for an article in Deník N on the role of the presidency, which in Havelka's opinion can be divided into two parts, namely legislative and political.

DW: Czech Republic takes over rotating European presidency

July 01, 2022

The Czech Republic has taken over the rotating presidency of the European council. It has vowed to focus largely on aid to Ukraine and the war's repercussions. Žiga Faktor, the head of our Brussels office talked in a brief interview with DW. Žiga Faktor finds the Czech Republic a perfect fit for trying to find a consensus on the situation and the position towards Russia.

iDnes: Czech sounds through Brussels. Spejbl and Hurvínek will be there with the Presidency

July 01, 2022

The Czech Republic will sit on the EU Council for the second time in July. Thanks to the presidency and the growing number of visiting diplomats, the Czech language is spreading through Brussels more than usual, so you can hear "ahoj" or "rád tě vidím" here and there in the streets, writes Žiga Faktor in his commentary for iDNES.cz.

DELO.SI: Prime Minister Fiala's presidency will be hampered by past mistakes

July 01, 2022

The Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU begins today. One of the challenges that the Czech Republic will face is the possible extension of sanctions against Russia, for instance in the gas sector. However, the geographical proximity of Ukraine to the Czech Republic should facilitate negotiations on this issue. Žiga Faktor, head of our Brussels office, commented on this topic for the Slovenian online daily DELO.

E15: European politicians underestimated Russia 13 years ago. Czech Republic faces a more difficult presidency

June 24, 2022

Michal Hrubý, our Research Fellow, commented on the topic of the Czech EU Presidency in an article for the news server E15 in which he addresses the issue of gas from Russia. The article also compares the situation with 2009, when the Czech Republic held the EU Council Presidency for the first time.

Politico: Czech Republic braces for rocky EU presidency amid Ukraine war, high inflation

June 23, 2022

The head of our Brussels office, Žiga Faktor, commented for the news website Politico on the approach of the Czech government and the attitude of the Czech electorate towards the upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Seznamzpravy.cz: Comment: Ukraine in the EU? The biggest risk is empty promises

June 17, 2022

Our Research Fellow Jana Juzova commented on Ukraine's EU integration. Ukraine's economic level and lack of progress in democratic reforms, among other factors, complicate the EU's enlargement to include Ukraine. Accession would affect the flow of money redistributed from European funds, and Ukraine's membership would also have an impact on the EU Council's voting deliberations and the number of MEP seats.

Radio Z: Czech EU Presidency: how will we influence the debate and what are our tasks?

June 16, 2022

Our Senior Fellow Vít Havelka appeared live on Radio Z to talk about the upcoming Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU. He answered how the Czech Republic will influence the debate and what challenges the Czech Republic will face during the Presidency.