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Kirchgessner, Kilian
3 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
EU Council presidency makes Czechs more pro-European
The Czech EU presidency ends on Tuesday. The left-liberal daily Frankfurter Rundschau takes stock of the last six months: "The Czechs may not have made a brilliant job of their EU Council presidency, but it was not a complete failure either. And after six months at the helm of the EU the country is more pro-European than before and Euroscepticism is clearly diminishing. … Although no one would have believed it, there were highlights during the presidency. For instance the mediation in the gas dispute between Ukraine and Russia was a success for the Czechs. And at the EU's Eastern enlargement Conference where the accession of the Balkan states and also Ukraine were discussed the Prague government was a respected mediator between East and West. … The presidency has promoted the pro-European stance of the Czechs, it was only the image of the country's politicians that suffered."
» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Domestic Policy, » Czech Republic, » Europe
The Czech Republic as a successful mediator
Although many Czechs still put little stock in their country's EU Council presidency, Prague is currently proving itself in the gas dispute, writes the Frankfurter Rundschau. "The country's mediation of the control agreement in the gas conflict between Russian and Ukraine has taken the wind out of the sails of sceptics who had doubted Prague's ability to assume a leadership role. ... The Czechs can use their excellent contacts to the East to foster dialogue between Russia and Ukraine - to the benefit of the entire EU. ... The Czechs see themselves as mediators between the EU and countries like Ukraine and Serbia, which have long pinned their hopes on accession. In this dialogue the Czech Republic is a credible partner for the other former Eastern Bloc countries."
» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Energy, » Czech Republic, » Ukraine, » Russia, » Europe
That's Klaus
The Czech EU Council presidency will not be as bad as some observers are saying, writes the Financial Times Deutschland - despite Václav Klaus' negative stance on the EU: "Nevertheless there is reason to hope that at least the Czech government will actively commit itself to the affairs of Europe. The majority of the population is pro-European - and politicians will bear that in mind in the election year 2009. ... Above all the community has a good reputation among the young and successful. 'We are proud of our membership in the Union' you hear them say. Even the head of state will have to jump over his shadow for the Czech EU Council presidency. On February 19 Klaus will speak before the European Parliament - and be received according to parliamentary protocol. ... And when the anthem is played the Eurosceptic from Prague will stand in front of the Czech and European flags."
» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU Policy, » Czech Republic, » Europe
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