The Czech EU term presidency

But when it was President Vaclav Klaus’ turn to have meetings with, the mood soared. Known for his Euroskepticism, the Czech president is also a famous ultraliberal to such an extent that he told us in his article for the Financial Times on climate change and the environmental debacle that these are fabricated news and in any case the functioning of the market economy should never be bothered for such meaningless issues! I suppose he is not sleeping sound nowadays due to the heavy state interventions everywhere to survive the economic crisis we are experiencing. Le Monde gives the story behind the meeting with Klaus.

In his welcome address Klaus starts by complaining that he is unfairly accused of Euroskepticism. When his turn, EP Greens Group Chair Daniel Cohn-Bendit took out a small European Union flag of his pocket, as a reference to the absence of the EU flag in the presidential palace and said to Klaus, "As you are such a good friend of the EU, then let me present this flag to you." The Czech president ignores the gesture, Cohn-Bendit follows with questions. He mentions Decan Ganley of Libertas that played a crucial role in Ireland rejecting the Lisbon Treaty in the referendum. Ganley, accused of corruption by officials in Brussels, was honored by Klaus’s visit following the Irish vote. It is also possible that Klaus may support this ultraliberal businessman who considers forming an anti-EU party for the EP’s 2009 general elections.

Cohn-Bendit directly asks Klaus, "I would to know more about your friendship with Mr. Ganley from Ireland." Klaus turns to EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering and asks him to keep Cohn-Bendit quiet and give the floor to someone else. But this time Pöttering says since Klaus openly supported Ganley, the question is perfectly legitimate. From there on they got into a fray.

Klaus: "I must say that nobody has talked to me in such a style and tone for the past six years. You are not on the barricades in Paris here, [referring to Cohn-Bendit’s leadership in 1968]. This is incredible. I have never experienced anything like this before."

Cohn-Bendit: "Because we never met before."

Klaus: "I would not dare to ask how the activities of the Greens are funded."

Cohn-Bendit: "I didn’t ask you about funding. I asked about your political relation with Mr. Ganley. It is interesting how you link this to financing."

Klaus: "Cohn-Bendit is talking to me the way Soviets did."

Pöttering: "It is unacceptable to compare the European Parliament to the Soviet Union."

Klaus: "I meant the way of intervening"

Cohn-Bendit: " We don’t intervene with tanks."

It is not difficult to guess the atmosphere in the hall. Klaus then tried to explain that for his country there is not any other alternative but the EU, however, this is not with the current EU. He also said that during the Czechs’ term presidency he wants the end of irrational discussions over the intervention in markets. It is not difficult to see Klaus is awfully alone in the EU.

’A Europe without barriers’
In fact, French President Nicolas Sarkozy is not participating in the handing over ceremony and no EU flag will fly at the presidential palace in Prague. Prime Minister Topolanek keeps saying that if Czechs do not approve the Lisbon Treaty this will not be the end of the world, although they are the last two countries together with Sweden Ñ the other member state which will hold the presidency in 2009 Ñ that should ratify it. It is not easy to say that Czechs have completely understood political and economic situation in the EU. Czech motto for the term presidency is "A Europe without barriers." What a powerful claim! Removing all barriers in front of the free movement of goods, capital, services and citizens and opening to the United States, West Balkans and Eastern Europe. No word on Turkey in Czechs’ term presidency. I think they mean Turkey by "Eastern Europe." The enlargement will as a matter of fact, be on Czech’s agenda with 2009 being the 10th anniversary of the collapse of the Iron Curtain and the fifth anniversary of the last big EU enlargement. A comprehensive "five year" evaluation is being considered. Let’s wish well for the inexperienced, but assertive Czechs.