Czechs promise to 'sweeten' Europe

Source http://euobserver.com/9/26705/?rk=1

While often viewed as one of the most eurosceptic EU states, the Czechs are promising to "sweeten" the EU during their six-month term at the helm of the bloc in a video promoting the presidency to the national public, unveiled last week.

The video shows a typical working session in Brussels conferences or ministerial meetings, with Czech celebrities such as world-famous ice hockey player Jaromir Jagr or fashion model Tereza Maxova representing quite bored-looking diplomats gathered around the table and playing with sugar cubes (a Czech invention).

"We will make it sweet for Europe," is the concluding line after one cube falls into a cup of coffee under the Czech flag.

Without mentioning anything about the presidency goals or plans, Prague argued that the video - launched along with an official information campaign sponsored by the Czech government - is mainly dedicated to the local public.

"The first phase of the information campaign aims to spark interest among the Czechs, in an original and funny way," the government noted, admitting that various surveys suggest citizens feel they lack information about the upcoming EU presidency.

The Czech Republic is the second "new" EU member state after Slovenia to chair the bloc, starting from next January.

Originally, its role was expected to be much more limited, as the Lisbon treaty includes a provision about a new permanent president of the European Council [representing member states], elected for two and a half years, with the presidency countries only chairing ministerial sessions.

But due to the rejection of the treaty by Irish voters in June, the Czechs are due to moderate all EU meetings just like previous presidencies - including further debates over the institutional reform text, which Prague itself has not yet ratified.

Sweeter or harder for Europe?

To make something sweet for someone has a double meaning in the Czech language - it can either mean making things nicer or giving someone a hard time.

In connection with the EU, the Czechs are often portrayed as troublemakers. Firstly due to the staunchest and best-known eurosceptic in the Czech presidential palace, Vaclav Klaus, the founder of the Civic Democrats Party (ODS), the leader in the current ruling coalition.

Mr Klaus himself once warned that his nation would dissolve in the EU like a cube of sugar in coffee, and later criticised several of the bloc's projects as the most outspoken and critical head of state, sometimes receiving criticism in the European Parliament for his comments on issues such as Lisbon treaty.

In an indirect reply to Mr Klaus' comment, the country's vice-prime minister for EU affairs Alexander Vondra said during the presidency video presentation: "We are not a cube of sugar - we invented it. But even if we were such a sugar cube, our ambition is to sweeten Europe's cup of tea," the CTK agency reported.

Previous opinion surveys have showed the Czechs tend to be much less critical of the EU than their president, but Prague has also acquired its troublemaker image due to some of its diplomatic activities in Brussels.

Czech diplomats and ministers made a loud protest in 2006 when it looked like the Schengen passport-free area was to be further delayed, with Schengen enlargement eventually taking place earlier than intended.

The Czechs have also become associated with a passionate fight against authoritarian regimes at EU level - pressing for a hard line against Cuba and Belarus.