Luboš Palata on Prague's growing aversion to the EU

With its recent decision not to participate in the stability pact for the euro, the Czech Republic is steadily isolating itself within Europe, writes columnist Luboš Palata in the conservative daily Lidové noviny: "Once again the Czech Republic is out on a limb, while the governing Civic Democratic Party maintains that Prime Minister Petr Nečas is acting 'in harmony with Czech national interests'. ... Since its EU accession the Czech Republic has acted as a brake, nay-sayer and harsh critic of everything the EU has to offer. ... Our society and state are not developing any better than that part of Europe we are not so eager to be allied with. Our laws are no better than those of the rest of the EU, our country doesn't work better, our currency is no more stable and the people are no better off than in those EU members which in our view are so dreadfully well-integrated. The question is who benefits from such resistance in the name of 'Czech national interests'? In any case, it's not the citizens of the Czech Republic."

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