Criticism of the Czech EU presidency is justified

Martin Schulz, chairman of the Socialist group in the European Parliament, has called the Czech EU Council presidency a "total washout". The Prague business paper Hospodářské noviny can only agree: "It seems it's too much to ask of the Czech presidency that it participate in discussion on the crisis. ... The Americans have called for more money from Europe (for economic stimulus programmes). But Europe has already spent a pretty penny. Luxembourg's experienced prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker says we should wait 18 months for the current programmes to take effect. And the Czechs? What Czechs? Angela Merkel didn't choose the Czech prime minister to co-author a programmatic essay in the German news magazine Der Spiegel in the run-up to the G-20 summit, but the more influential Dutch prime minister. People are expecting a battle over energy projects at the Brussels summit where it will be every man for himself. What does the Czech presidency have to say on the issue? It's not even taking part in the debate. Schulz is right."

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