Czech Republic Ambassador´s Introductory Address
HE Jan Winkler
Conservative Foreign and Commonwealth Council
26-1-2009, 6.30 pm
Mr. Chairman, Lords, dear Conservatives,
It is good to be here tonight with you. I feel honoured to be given the opportunity to tell you something about the Czech EU Presidency and about the Czech foreign policy in general. Let me to start by saying that the year 2009 is a special one for us, Czechs, in two ways
1) we have been given the opportunity to represent the EU and
2) we are going to commemorate an event of great importance in the Czech history – the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Iron Curtain and the victory of the Velvet Revolution in former Czechoslovakia.
Before I will start talking about the Czech EU PRES, let me to go back in my memories exactly twenty years back. I still remember very vividly the enthusiasm of hearing about President Mitterand´s breakfast with Vaclav Havel and other dissidents. Human Rights Day (10 Dec 2008) was celebrated by the first official free gathering of citizens, addressed by Havel. Our hopes flew high. And than in January, when we spontaneously commemorated 20th anniversary of Jan Palach´s death on Wenceslas Square, again were we beaten by riot police, using teargas and water cannons. And this happened repeatedly day by day for a week. Havel and many others were arrested and we were depressed and humiliated again. You will probably believe me that I would have never imagined that my country would chair the European Union 20 years later and that I would be invited to introduce the Czech presidency in the House of Lords.
The Czech EU Presidency was preceded by the successful French one. France had an ambitious programme which she managed to implement. At the very beginning, however, the FR PRES was confronted with such events as the crisis in Georgia and the global financial crisis. France and President Sarkozy himself showed an determination at solving crisis situations. We are especially delighted that the FR PRES succeeded in facilitation of key documents we can now build on.
Just since we took over the presidency we found ourselves in a similar position: We faced the crisis in Gaza and the collapse of gas supplies into the EU Member States. As far as the latter one is concerned, the CZ PRES succeeded in reaching the agreement on settlement of the gas dispute between Ukraine and Russia, of course due to enormous pressure coming from the Commission and European leaders. The gas is flowing again but we remain alert. Lesson has to be learnt
The CZ PRES was also working hard to facilitate a solution to the conflict in Gaza. Arriving at a solution is a long-term process. Our priority in the moment is to strengthen the achieved ceasefire as a precondition for alleviating the humanitarian situation. The two-state solution remains the best hope for a lasting peace. With regard to this the EU will work with other international partners to resume the peace talks. In this respect it also underlines the need to see tangible progress in Palestinian reconciliation supported by the efforts of Egypt and the Arab League. CZ PRES hosted 2 separate meetings: past Tuesday dinner of 27 foreign ministers with Cipi Livni and yesterday the dinner with EG,TK,PA and JO
We can say that our CZ PRES priorities, the „Three Es“, which stand for Economy, Energy and Europe in the World somehow spontaneously converted into 3 G : Gas. Gaza and G-20. The 3G is quite a gravity force, isn’t it?
The Work Programme of the Czech Presidency is based on the continuity of EU policies and on the cooperation with France and Sweden, as stated in the joint 18-month programme of the Council.
The first “E” stands for Economy
The global economic crisis has once again proven that in the global market, no one is protected from the consequences of mistakes. Undoubtedly, the primary task during coming weeks is to prevent further deepening of the crisis. The European Economic Recovery Plan (approved by the Commission) is a good framework for the coordinated effort of the European Union and its Member States.
The implementation of this plan should be effective, targeted and time limited. Though reflecting the specific conditions of the Member States it should respect the principles of the Stability and Growth Pact as well as the competition rules. It is necessary to prevent excessive regulation and to avoid protectionism and irresponsible infusion of financial funds into the economies. Just today ECOFIN is discussing the preparation of the April G-20 Summit in London in order to coordinate EU contribution for a solution at global level.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The recent development fully justifies the emphasis of the CZ PRES on strengthening the competitiveness of the EU by building a strong and technologically developed European economy. Focus has to remain on the goals of the Lisbon strategy, the development of human capital, education, research and also the free movement of labour force and services. Our task will be to minimise the administrative burden which will be of most help to small and medium businesses. Also, we are going to make sure EU agencies will be justly allocated in member states. These premises are all expressed in the motto of the CZ PRES: Europe without barriers - but with rules, we add at the same time.
The first essential „planned“ task of the CZ PRES is to get well prepared for the Spring European Council, that will – apart from other issues – undoubtedly deal with the issue of Energy Security. At the same time, the Spring European Council will reflect on the implementation of the European Economic Recovery Plan.
This year marks 5 years since the historically largest expansion in 2004. The CZ PRES intends to host an international conference to commemorate this event. At the conference a study will be released about the benefits of this enlargement for EU in the years that followed.
The second “E” is - Energy
The recent developments connected with the disruption of supplies of Russian gas into the EU Member States have proved again that Energy is another Europe-wide and global topic.
The CZ PRES opened a new intense discussion on the energy security in order to make efforts to diversify the energy mix, including the rehabilitation of the nuclear power and investments in new technologies, and to reduce the dependence of the EU on the Russian gas. It will also be vital to diversify supplier routes and suppliers.
To give an example: the Nabucco natural gas pipeline is an issue of the highest priority and so is the support for the construction of new oil pipelines.
In the area of Energy Security, we would like to focus on three dimensions of the problem:
1) completion of analysis of medium-term demand and supply of energy in the EU, and identification of appropriate infrastructure projects.
2) decision on minimum stocks of crude oil and/or petroleum products,
3) review of the trans-European energy network,
Energy is directly connected to the climate change. Consensus on a world-wide scale should be achieved at the global UN Conference on Climate Change to be held in Copehagen in December 2009. The CZ PRES will take up the excellent job of the FR PRES and launch a systematic preparation for this conference. Of course, it will be already a job for Sweden.
The third “E” is - Europe and the World
The position of Europe as a global player depends above all on the quality of the Transatlantic Partnership. It is not some novelty of the CZ PRES. Member states which joined EU in 2004 stressed during the past 2 decades how important the Atlantic link is considered in terms of security but in terms of economy as well. In April we shall commemorate 60 anniversary of NATO and also 10 years since the first post-communist countries joined this organization. Enlargement of NATO into Central and Eastern Europe definitively put the division of Europe agreed in Yalta to an end.
The Czech Presidency will put emphasis on intensive dialogue with representatives of the new US administration in key areas – the economy, climate and energy, as well as cooperation with the third countries. We are ready to work on setting such relations with the USA during the first visit of US president Barack Obama in Europe this April. We would like to host the EU-USA Summit.
EU's position in the world is going to depend on the stance the member states are going to take during the talks regarding the new agreement on strategic partnership with Russia. The events of recent years and especially months have raised a number of questions and have emphasized the necessity of a common approach by the entire EU.
The Czech presidency will emphasise the programme of Eastern Partnership which is equally important to us as the Union for the Mediterranean was to the FR PRES. Its expedited preparation is needed because of the growing importance of cooperation with the region of Eastern Europe, especially with Ukraine, as well as the countries of the Caucasus and Caspian regions. The Eastern Partnership Summit is scheduled for May and will be followed by the international conference on energy security „Southern Corridor Summit“.
The historic unification and stabilisation of the European continent would be left incomplete without the gradual integration of the Western Balkans into the EU. Therefore, under the Czech presidency talks will also continue on enlargement covering the countries of the Western Balkans and Turkey. The Presidency will make efforts to maintain the dynamics of the EU enlargement. We will do our best to achieve a progress of the West Balkan countries within the framework of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
Chairman, my Lords,
The Czech Republic is leading the EU in rather difficult times. Elections to the European Parliament will take place in June 2009. Therefore, we are aware of the fact that its legislative activity will go down, and all negotiated agenda will be more politicised than usual. Following the European elections, the CZ PRES will have to start the process of appointing the new European Commission. The institutional framework of the Union – particularly the Lisbon Treaty, will be another important issue.