| THE CZECH REPUBLIC, AT THE HELM OF THE EUROPEAN UNION 07/01/2009 |
| (2009-01-07) |
| Last updated: 2009-01-08 16:44 EET |
Home to 10 million people, over 2% of the EU’s population, and a GDP of over 80% of the Union’s average, the Czech Republic has been faced with two emergency situations since the beginning of its mandate, namely, the gas crisis between Russia and Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East. Radio Romanian correspondent in Prague, Luminita Apostol has more details:
“The Czech Republic identifies the priorities of its first term at the helm of the EU with Europe’s current priorities, namely the economic crisis, energy and foreign relations, a mandate already seen as difficult because of the economic crisis and rendered even more complicated, since the first days of the year, by the gas crisis between Russia and Ukraine and the conflict in the Gaza Strip. PM Mirek Topolanek, in his first press conference as European Council President, has stated that their task will be difficult, especially after the EU was headed by a large country like France and by President Sarkozy, but has voiced optimism the Czech Republic will be able to handle the situation, which is a difficult, but not impossible task. The Czech Republic on Sunday initiated a mission to the Middle East in the name of the European Union, and is now taking steps, alongside the EU, to convince Ukraine and Russia to work out between themselves the natural gas crisis affecting EU countries. If the two countries fail to reach an agreement, the Czech Presidency is considering a last possible solution, a trilateral meeting with Russia and Ukraine.”
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2025-04-03
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