Priorities of the Czech EU Presidency 2009 Milena

Priorities of the Czech EU Presidency 2009 Milena Vicenová December 2008, Brussels

December 2008 GENERAL FRAMEWORK OF THE CZECH PRESIDENCY § EP Elections § End of the EC’s term of office § Lisbon Treaty § Current Developments (financial crisis and economic slowdown)

December 2008 SYMBOLIC FRAMEWORK FOR THE CZECH PRESIDENCY § 5 years after the largest enlargement in EU history § 20 years after fall of Iron Curtain § 30 years after the first direct elections to EP § 60 years after founding of NATO

December 2008 PREPARATIONS FOR THE CZECH PRESIDENCY § § Main priorities Sectoral priorities and agendas (Preparation of EU Council programmes, working parties and committees) § 18 month programme of French, Czech and Swedish Presidencies => Working Programme

December 2008 PRESIDENCY MOTTO EUROPE WITHOUT BARRIERS § Removing existing barriers within the EU (internal and external) § Barriers prevent full use of EU potential § Taking present financial crisis as a challenge – avoid over-regulation and reject protectionism (Declaration of the Leaders of the Group of Twenty, November 15, 2008)

December 2008 PRIORITIES OF THE PRESIDENCY § Economy § Energy § European Union in the World

December 2008 ECONOMY § § § Resolving financial crisis § External trade Reinforcing EU competitiveness Fully applying all internal market freedoms Improving regulatory environment Research and development, innovation, education

December 2008 ENERGY § EU energy security § Internal electricity and gas market § Energy efficiency and low-carbon energy sources § Climate protection

December 2008 EXTERNAL RELATIONS § Eastern partnership § Western Balkans § Transatlantic relations §Human rights, transformation policy and development cooperation §Area of freedom, security and justice

December 2008 KEY PERSONALITIES Foreign Affairs Summits General Affairs Coordination European Council

December 2008 CONSULTATING ON PRIORITIES § § Committee on the EU § § § Non-profit sector Czech Parliament Social and economic partners Association of Regions, Union of Towns and Municipalities Czech Members of EP Groups of external experts

December 2008 CHALLENGE FOR THE CR §Leading EU with 493 million inhabitants §Better understanding how EU functions §„University“ of a diplomacy §Country promotion §Modernisation of the state administration §„Europe“ in the member country

December 2008 Thank you for your attention!