Word: czech
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Under E.U. rules, all meetings of the 27 members - from the summits of leaders to technical gatherings of civil servants - are chaired by the country holding the reins. The collapse of the Czech coalition means that many of the ministers and officials directing the E.U.'s work could be replaced midway through the country's six-month presidency, which started in January...
...expected to hold onto the reins of both the government and the E.U. presidency until a new Czech coalition is formed, but there is uncertainty about how long this could take. Social Democrat leader Jiri Paroubek has said the government could "complete the Czech E.U. presidency or its substantial part...
Topolanek says he does not want to maintain a caretaker government until June, when Sweden takes over the E.U. presidency. If none of the candidates for the new prime minister can secure a majority - a strong possibility in the split Czech parliament - early elections would have to be called, which would mean further distractions for the country supposedly shepherding the E.U. (Read: "'Old Europe' Wary as Czechs Take Over E.U. Presidency...
...European Commission insists it has "full trust" that the Czech Republic will continue to run the E.U. presidency smoothly. But officials in Brussels are nervous about the E.U. falling into limbo at such a critical moment. On Wednesday, German MEP Martin Schulz, who leads the European Parliament's Socialist group, accused Topolanek of undermining Europe. "Being here this morning shows that you are a fighter, but so far you haven't understood what the task of the presidency of the E.U. is," Schultz said...
Until now, Topolanek could say that Klaus held a mainly figurative position, with few formal powers to disrupt the Czech presidency. But under the Czech constitution, the president has the power to nominate a new prime minister, making him the country's kingmaker - a prospect that does little to raise spirits in Brussels...