Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the energy crisis, climate change and a European summit: The Czech Republic has a lot on its plate for its turn leading the Council of the European Union.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala wants to present his country as clearly belonging to Western EuropeImage: Vit Simanek/CTK/picture alliance
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From July 2022, Europe will be led by two former university rectors: Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala is a political scientist who served as rector of the Masaryk University in Brno from 2004 and 2011. His friend, musicologist Mikulas Bek, ran the institution from 2011 to 2019, and today serves as the Czech Republic's minister of European affairs. Under the leadership of both men, the Masaryk University became one of the most popular institutes of higher learning in the world, attaining a favorability among students to rival universities in Berlin or Vienna.
Fiala and Bek now want to repeat their success as rectors of their country's second-largest university in the EU by presenting the Czech Republic as part of Western Europe when it takes the Council of the European Union's rotating presidency on July 1, 2022 — and not as part of eastern Europe.
"I would be very pleased if our EU presidency led to our country being perceived not as a country that seeks to catch up to the West, but as an EU member state with no ifs, ands, or buts," Mikulas Bek told DW. "To do so, it is enough to exercise the role of presiding country with professionalism."
Whether or not the Czech Republic is perceived as a "normal" EU country like Denmark or Sweden will depend on little things like punctuality at EU negotiations, he said. Such countries did not dominate the EU debate stage like France or Germany, he said, but rather, they knew what it takes to be a good moderator.
Ukraine top of the list
Prague is well aware that its performance presiding over the EU Council will be greatly influenced by Russia's aggression toward Ukraine and its effect on the the EU and the world.
"It is not as if Ukraine is pushing all other issues off the table, but rather that we now have a giant new problem," says Bek. After Poland, the Czech Republic is probably the EU country most strongly supporting Kyiv. It is delivering weapons, including tanks and helicopters, and has taken in 350,000 Ukrainian refugees.
Looking forward to winter, the Czech EU minister says mastering the energy crisis brought about by Russia will be a focal point. "That is a central task," says Bek, "one that will determine EU credibility. This will be a bigger test for the EU than dealing with the coronavirus pandemic." It is critical that the EU prepare sufficient capacity for liquid gas terminals and transport routes, he adds.
Fiala (r) and Bek (l) have set out clear prioritiesImage: Roman Vondrous/CTK/picture alliance
Established priorities
Such concerns correspond with the priorities that Prime Minister Petr Fiala outlined for the Czech rotating presidency during a press conference in Prague in mid-June. They included: mastering the refugee crisis and the reconstruction of Ukraine after the war; energy security; strengthening Europe's defense capabilities and cyber security; and enhancing the strategic resilience of Europe's economy and democratic institutions. The motto of the Czech Republic's EU Council presidency is a quote from the country's former president, Vaclav Havel — "Europe as a task."
"Europe, and with it the entire world, finds itself in a moment of profound transformation. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has shaken many of our certainties," as Fiala told reporters, while explaining that Europe must work toward creating a new security architecture. The Czech Republic also understands that its task in presiding over the EU is not defined by pushing its own interests, he said: "The task of the Czech presidency will, above all, be to achieve consensus in individual areas and attain all-important European unity."
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Image: Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa/picture alliance
France: Fresh protests feared
An eco tax on fuels led to violent protests in France back in 2018 and 2019. This is why Paris intends to allow for no more than a 4% increase in electricity costs this year. State-owned utility EDF has been forced to provide cheaper power to households, with the state paying €8 billion ($8.9 billion) in compensation.
Image: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images
Italy: 'Whatever it takes 2.0?'
Whether as former ECB chief or Italy's prime minister — Mario Draghi likes to pony up money to make it easier for citizens. As early as last September, Italy spent €3 billion on fighting poverty caused by soaring energy prices. The country paid the gas and electricity bills for millions of smaller firms and poorer households. Value-added tax (VAT) on gas was reduced to just 5%, from over 20%.
Image: ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP
Germany: One-time payments
Germany hasn't been as generous as some of its neighbors. The federal government is handing out one-time payments to poorer households to cushion them from the impact of soaring energy prices. The initiative is expected to cost the government about €130 million.
Image: H. Blossey/blickwinkel/picture alliance
Spain: Protecting consumers
Last summer, Madrid halved the value-added tax on electricity, now standing at 10%. In September, it was even reduced to the EU's minimum of 0.5%. The government wants to prevent poorer families from being cut off from electricity supply. Utilities profiting from the hike in gas prices have been called upon to give their extra earnings back to consumers.
Image: Jonas Martiny/DW
Greece: Subsidies despite empty coffers
Gas prices have doubled in Greece within just one year, while electricity costs went up 35% and heating oil soared 35%. Despite Greece sitting on empty coffers as a result of its 2010 debt crisis, the country is using hefty subsidies to lessen the impact of the ongoing price spiral. In January alone, the government allocated €400 million to this end.
Value-added tax on fuels has already been lowered in Poland, and VAT on food items will be suspended as of February 1.While a big proportion of petrol at the pumps in Poland comes from German refineries, Germans living near the border stand to profit even more from the difference in fuel prices. They can save at least 20% when filling up their cars.
Image: Jörg Carstensen/dpa/picture alliance
Czech Republic: New government, old plans
It's still unclear to what extent the new prime minister, Petr Fiala, will implement the plans of his predecessor, populist billionaire Andrej Babis. Sales tax on electricity and gas is to be reduced in the first phase and completely done away with as of 2023. There's already a groundswell of opposition to the EU's Green Deal, which consumers say is partly to blame for the price hike.
Image: Darko Bandic/AP Photo/picture alliance
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Mega-summit in Prague
Although the French presidency was already able to successfully extend membership candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova at the EU summit in June 2022, the question of EU expansion and cooperation with the bloc's neighbors will also be the focus of the most important informal summit scheduled during the Czech Republic's Council presidency.
The event will take place in Prague in October 2022, and be the largest event of its kind, because not only EU member states are to take part but other European countries as well, "from Iceland to Ukraine, regardless of whether they are EU members or not," announced Fiala on his Facebook page. "It is a challenge for us, but one that we'll master."
With the event, the Czech Republic can indirectly establish a link to its last Council presidency in 2009, when the so-called Eastern Partnership between six post-Soviet states (Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan) and the EU was launched at a similar Prague summit.
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Crisis management
According to observers, the key to success for the Czech Republic's turn at the helm will be whether it can continue to support Ukraine, ensure that it does not lose the war to Russia, and manage the repercussions of Russian aggression. Beyond that, the Czech Republic will have to moderate debate around advancing legislative steps for the climate plan Fit for 55.
"It will be enough if we are able to achieve our fundamental aims — help Ukraine, master the refugee crisis, and solve the energy crisis," as Helena Truchla, lead analyst at the think tank Czech Interests in the EU, told DW.
However, just as the Czech Republic prepares to take over the Council presidency, its government is being rocked by a corruption scandal at Prague City Hall in which members of STAN, the second-largest member in the country's current five-party ruling coalition, have been caught up. That, too, is reminiscent of 2009, when the government of Mirek Topolanek was toppled in the middle of the country's Council presidency.
In an attempt to defuse the situation, Education Minister and STAN Deputy Party Chairman Petr Gazdik immediately stepped down, even though he said he had nothing to do with the scandal. "I don't want to endanger the government or the coalition on the eve of the EU Council presidency," said Gazdik of his resignation. In 2009, Prime Minister Topolanek had no parliamentary majority — that is different today. This time around, the Czech Republic's ruling coalition enjoys a solid majority of 108 of the body's 200 seats.
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Image: Czech Tourism
Prague — living past
In the center of the country lies the capital Prague. It is called the "Golden City" because of its more than 500 gilded tower domes. Gothic and Baroque styles dominate the cityscape. Prague has been a political and cultural center in Europe since the Middle Ages, attracting artists, architects and scientists. Today, Prague is one of the ten most visited cities in Europe.
Image: CzechTourism/Martin Rak
Charles Bridge — bustling with tourists
Every Prague tourist crosses it at least once: The 14th century Charles Bridge. It is a landmark, crossing the Vltava River and connecting the old town with the castle. The pedestrian bridge has a fairground atmosphere during the day, with artists, souvenir dealers and live music. With 30 baroque sculptures adorning the stone bridge, it feels like an open-air gallery.
Image: picture-alliance/imageBROKER/F. Bienewald
Bohemian Paradise
Along with Moravia and Silesia, Bohemia is one of the historical regions that make up the Czech Republic today. The Bohemian Paradise in the north of the country is popular with hikers — with sandstone cliffs, wildly romantic castles and palaces. Hruba Skala Castle, for example, is now a hotel built on a plateau. Guests can walk up a rock staircase directly into the mountain world.
Image: picture-alliance/imageBROKER/T. Mueller
The Giant Mountains
In the north is Krkonose or the Giant Mountains, the highest and most visited Czech mountain range. It's been a national park since 1953. Good snow conditions, numerous slopes and moderate prices for ski lifts and accommodation attract winter sports fans from home and abroad. Despite its name, the Giant Mountains cover only 631 square kilometers.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/D. Taneèek/CTK
Bohemian Switzerland — climbing sandstone rocks
Known as Saxon Switzerland on the German side, this mountain range continues on the Czech side. Hikers and climbers feel at home in the Bohemian Switzerland National Park. The best known attraction is the Prebischtor, Europe's largest natural sandstone rock bridge. However, daredevils have not been permitted here since 1982. Due to strong erosion the bridge is not accessible.
Image: picture-alliance/M. Vennemann
Bath culture — sipping healing water
There's a long tradition of spas in Bohemia. Karlovy Vary is one of the most famous health resorts in the world. Since the Middle Ages, the mineral springs with a temperature of more than 60 degrees Celsius (140°F) have been used for healing baths and drinking cures. In historical colonnades, such as the Market Colonnade, there are medicinal fountains, from which spa guests scoop water.
Image: picture-alliance/imageBROKER/J. Hubatka
Palaces, castles, fortresses
There are countless castles, palaces and fortifications in the Czech Republic, more than 2,000 in fact. Lednice Castle in the southeast is one of the most visited architectural sites in the Czech Republic and, as part of the Lednice-Valtice cultural landscape, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area was established in the 17th century and is the largest park landscape in the world.
Image: Czech Tourism
Modern architecture — Villa Tugendhat
World-class modern architecture can be seen in Brno, the second largest city after Prague. German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe had Villa Tugendhat built there in the late 1920s. It was to become the home of the textile entrepreneurs Fritz and Grete Tugendhat, and is today regarded as a milestone in modern architecture.
Image: CzechTourism/Ales Motejl
Famous brewing art — Czech beer
Whether Budweiser, Staropramen, Gambrinus or Pilsner Urquell — Czech beer is world famous. In Bohemia, hops thrive, and beer has been brewed here for centuries. And it is so good that today it is a Czech national drink. Beer consumption in the Czech Republic is the highest in the world. This excellent beer is certainly another good reason for a trip to the Czech Republic!
Image: picture-alliance/JOKER/V. Vasku/est&ost
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This article was translated from German by Jon Shelton.