With the fate of the EU resting in the hands of the Czech Republic, the country has become the focus of media attention. But as it parades in the limelight, the young democracy cannot hide its many troubles. For years, the Czech Republic was hailed as the wunderkind of the former East Bloc countries, the shining economic example and leader of the pack. In record time, it appeared to have shed its past to become a fully-fledged member of the Western world. But now, 20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, much of the glitter has fallen off Europe's brightest new star, and it has become tangled up in a mess of domestic political infighting and an apparent inability to decide what it wants and where it wants to stand on the international stage. So what went wrong?
For years, the Czech Republic was hailed as the wunderkind of the former East Bloc countries, the shining economic example and leader of the pack. In record time, it appeared to have shed its past to become a fully-fledged member of the Western world.
But now, 20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, much of the glitter has fallen off Europe's brightest new star, and it has become tangled up in a mess of domestic political infighting and an apparent inability to decide what it wants and where it wants to stand on the international stage.
So what went wrong?
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The heads of the EU's three main institutions on Wednesday (7 September) came together to point out to Czech President Vaclav Klaus the "costs" to Europe if he continues to delay ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, the union's new rulebook. European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso, European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek and Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Swedish Prime Minister and the current chair of the EU, said several pending decisions are awaiting clarification from Prague. Jose Manuel Barroso (l) and Fredrik Reinfeldt - waiting for clarity Chief among the issues hanging in the balance is whether the Swedish presidency will be able to press ahead with a planned summit on EU institutional affairs at the end of the month, where the names for the new president of the European Council, the EU foreign minister and commissioner portfolios are to be agreed. Mr Reinfeldt said it would be "wrong" to start consultations on these posts "without further clarification" from Prague, while Mr Buzek said there should be "clear information about how costly it is [the delay] for other member states."
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The heads of the EU's three main institutions on Wednesday (7 September) came together to point out to Czech President Vaclav Klaus the "costs" to Europe if he continues to delay ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, the union's new rulebook.
European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso, European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek and Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Swedish Prime Minister and the current chair of the EU, said several pending decisions are awaiting clarification from Prague.
Jose Manuel Barroso (l) and Fredrik Reinfeldt - waiting for clarity
Chief among the issues hanging in the balance is whether the Swedish presidency will be able to press ahead with a planned summit on EU institutional affairs at the end of the month, where the names for the new president of the European Council, the EU foreign minister and commissioner portfolios are to be agreed.
Mr Reinfeldt said it would be "wrong" to start consultations on these posts "without further clarification" from Prague, while Mr Buzek said there should be "clear information about how costly it is [the delay] for other member states."
The Eurosceptic Czech President, Vaclav Klaus, wants a new two-sentence footnote to be added to the EU's Lisbon Treaty before signing it, Sweden says.The new condition came up during a phone conversation between Mr Klaus and Swedish PM Fredrik Reinfeldt, current holder of the EU presidency. Mr Reinfeldt said the requested footnote was linked to the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights. Poland's president is to sign Lisbon in a ceremony on Saturday, officials say.
The Eurosceptic Czech President, Vaclav Klaus, wants a new two-sentence footnote to be added to the EU's Lisbon Treaty before signing it, Sweden says.
The new condition came up during a phone conversation between Mr Klaus and Swedish PM Fredrik Reinfeldt, current holder of the EU presidency.
Mr Reinfeldt said the requested footnote was linked to the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Poland's president is to sign Lisbon in a ceremony on Saturday, officials say.
And how can Bliar be considered if the UK has an "opt-out" on the Human Rights component? "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin
