Czechs, Swedes reject EU presidency swap plan

Both Sweden and the Czech Republic have dismissed suggestions that their countries could exchange EU presidencies next year. The idea was first put forward by a German MEP to minimise the risk of a weakened Czech government leading the Union when Prague takes over the bloc’s helm in January.

Ingo Friedrich, a conservative MEP from Germany, called on the Czech Republic to swap EU presidencies with Sweden, which is due to take over the EU’s leadership from Prague in the second half of 2009. “I honestly have doubts that the Czechs will be able to solve their problems in the coming weeks,” Friedrich told EURACTIV. 

The Czech government was weakened by recent local elections, during which it lost a number of seats in the Senate and narrowly avoided a no-confidence vote in Parliament. A growing chorus of voices is now calling for Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek to step down. 

“My intention is not to corner the Czechs,” Friedrich continued, “but we have to ensure the EU’s capacity to act in times of crisis. In normal times, this would not be such a big problem, but we are facing a global recession. The Czechs should take my suggestion as the advice of a concerned friend”. 

A Czech diplomat told EURACTIV that the idea, first circulated in the Czech press, was “absurd”, adding that it was “legally impossible”. 

Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt’s spokesperson told EURACTIV that aside from the legal aspect, her country was “not prepared” to start its presidency in January. 

Meanwhile, the suggestion was harming the Czech Republic’s image, diplomatic sources said, blaming the German MEP for choosing Prague as an “easy target” for getting attention ahead of the European elections. 

A think-tank representative, who preferred not to be named, told EURACTIV that “MEPs should know that they have nothing to say about EU presidencies”. 

Ji?í ?unek, first deputy prime minister and minister for regional development, dismissed suggestions that the presidency’s preparations were late. “I am confident we can make it. I know we are prepared very well,” he said in an interview with EURACTIV.cz. 

However, he also admitted that preparations needed to accelerate. “After the discussions I had today [with Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner], I realised we must speed up,” said ?unek, adding that there would be “a lot to debate,” especially on the issue of regional policy, which he said would be “central” to the Czech agenda. 

Asked what would happen if the Czech government was forced to step down, ?unek said: “I admit I cannot imagine such a situation. And I even do not want to imagine being deputy minister or minister in resignation and at the same time holding an EU presidency.” 

The Czech deputy prime minister blamed the opposition Social Democrats for what he called a “total lack of responsibility” in the context of the forthcoming Czech EU presidency. The Social Democrats leader Jiri Paroubek recently called the government to resign, following the local elections, and said he wanted a “government of experts” to run the country throughout its EU presidency, with early elections at its term.

Read more with Euractiv

'Danish' scenario 'most likely outcome' of EU Treaty crisis

A 'Danish scenario' based on opt-outs from the EU's new Reform Treaty seems to be the most likely outcome of the stalemate following the failed referendum on the text in Ireland on 12 June, according to an Irish-based scholar writing for the Robert Schuman Foundation.