Analyzes
Turkey and its accession from the security perspective
A question of whether Turkey will become an EU member in the future is a question that is stirring up discussion. There are many arguments both pro and against. But despite a wide criticism it seems that potential Turkish enlargement does not constitute any security threat.
Immediate distrust from financial markets is shocking. Therefore, shock-therapy will be vital for indebted countries.
Alexandr Vondra: The Czechs will not be fly in the ointment
Tomáš Čoček: Building transport infrastructure complicated by the Czech legislation
Czech politicians announced they are not willing to pay for losses caused by the biggest domestic railway operator, Czech Rails. An analysis of the situation of the national railway operator and of the obstacles to more liberalized market prepared by Respekt weekly.
No significant changes of the Czech pension system were made last year and it is therefore still unable to cope with demographic changes. But it is even worse as most of our citizens believe that the state will be able to take care of them when they retire.
Actors, dancers or publishers of literary magazines showed Václav Jehlička, the Czech minister for culture, what they think about his plans to cut the budget for creative arts. Czechs apparently do not understand a potential of creative industries, Jaroslav Formánek, editor of Respekt weekly, writes.
Jan Bureš: Euro is not a good incentive for savings
Gabriela Munkova: Merit principle disappears from Czech pension system
Chief public health officer has a swine flu and minister for health will negotiate with British Pharmaceutical company to lower its orders down from 1 million vaccines.
It is finally out: Michael Kocáb, minister for human rights, presented the government plan for Roma integration 2013. Document is marked as strategic and it approved by the government yesterday. Its importance is expressed by the well-prepared 70 pages long document that omits almost nothing when describing "Roma problem" and its solution.
Eliška Tomalová: Cooperation among cultural institutions is beneficial to small countries
Reform of EU budget and a new financial framework after 2013
European Union is facing new challenges such as globalization, climate change, energy security, demographic changes, migration, crossborder crime and international terrorism. Although European leaders know about these challenges, the solution has still rather a form of policy declarations.
Renewables in the EU: Situation in Czech Republic and Germany
By the exploitation of the renewables we can decrease our dependency on the import of fossil fuels and partly eliminate the consequences of CO2 emissions.
A need for "politically binding" deal in Copenhagen
Danish capital will host an important UN meeting on climate change (COP 15 UNFCCC). It is expected that the representatives from 192 participating countries will sign the binding deal on global climate and set the new CO2 reduction regime for period after 2012 when Kyoto Protocol expires.
Medvedev and Obama on a START II Treaty
At his last visit of Prague, Barack Obama declared a commitment of his country to seek for peace and security in the world without nuclear weapons. Almost a year ago, a first step towards this vision was taken as he and his Russian counterpart Dmitrij Medvedev gathered in Prague. But the questions prevail.
Intellectual property protection in the EU
Directives that aim to harmonize national laws on intellectual property do not bring a coveted results as national legislation widely differ. Solution could be a single EU Regulation but its adoption seems unlikely, Tomáš Dobřichovský says.
Europe needs to understand that elysian days are over, Schwarzenberg says
When even an EU Presidency acknowledges that the Lisbon Strategy is a failure, it must be quite a debacle.
Nabucco conference in Georgia: Politics trumps economic reason
Nabucco conference that took place in Georgia´s Batumi in January 2010 was not a „meeting of ten heads of states and government“ as previously expected but just an expert meeting that came to no conclusion or even practical results, Russian analyst Tatiana Mitrova says.
Barbara Lochbihler: Iran disent still lacks the massive support
Daniel Braun: We must say no to attempts to sectoralize EU´s regional policy
Future of EU cohesion policy as seen from Czech perspective
The current setting of the cohesion policy is going to end together with the current financial perspective. Discussion on both the future of the policy and its priorities has already been launched at the EU level. Together with the CAP reform, the issue is one of the most important ones in the discussion on future EU budget.
Milk crisis revealed a need for quota system
Extraordinary meeting of Agricultural ministers is expected to talk about the situation in the milk sector. They will follow up on the recent protests of milk producers that had become extremely intense during September 2009. Europe has seen not only riots in streets and blocked highways but also impressive milk-spilling in the cities of fields. Return to well managed quota system can be a solution.
Martin Roman: Energy savings is our priority
How to understand Klaus´s demands
President of the Czech Republic Václav Klaus does not want to sign the Lisbon Treaty. He is waiting for the decision of the Czech Constitutional Court and warns that the Lisbon Treaty means the end of Czech sovereignty.
František Čakrt: National parliaments has already tried common subsidiarity test
Community patent and its influence on enterprises
The influence of community patent (EU patent) on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) could be huge. However, according to experts, it might be launched not earlier than 10 years from now.
Jan Stejskal: There is "weird moral alchemy" in the approach of Czechs towards Roma people
Interview: Eastern Partnership as a way to see into the kitchen of postcommunist countries
Energy in EU-Russia relations: Stagnation or a way to improvement?
Last year´s relations between the EU and the Russian Federation were (similarly to preceding years) marked by the omnipresent threat of disruption in gas supplies and by inability of both parties to in finding a common stance on key issues. On the other hand, in effort to emerge from an adverse situation, Brussels and Moscow succeeded in coming to couple of joint decisions.
Jan Pretel: Climate conference failed
Comparison of V4 currencies during the economic crisis
Time pattern of exchange rates is both hard predict and explain as there are many factors that influence them. In spite of that, looking at charts depicting paths of exchange rates of Czech koruna (CZK), Polish zloty (PLN) and Hungarian forint (HUF) to euro, common characteristics can be found, one of them being their common upward trend that lasted until US' Lehman Brothers collapsed in 2008.
The Eastern Partnership in the Context of the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Agenda of ...
The preparation of new priorities of the EU policy towards the Eastern neighbours requires that countries of VIsegrad 4 overcome their differences and take the clear and leading role in the relations with East European countries, argues the publication „The Eastern Partnership in the Context of the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Agenda of the Visegrad Group“.
Matyáš Zrno: If Serbia wants to become EU member, it must find the way how to recognize Kosovo
Rod Christie: If we keep hesitating on investments, gas will be the only solution
Prague´s Vice-Mayor: Reduced GSA could be in Prague
Businessman Koníček: Commission pays always late
Pat Cox: There is a need to change motivations in healthcare system
Mirek Topolanek: If V4 agrees, even Sarkozy gets worried
Václav Bartuška: Do not pay extra money for gas
Petr Kratochvíl: Granting contract for building nuclear powerplant to Russians would be a mistake
Matyáš Zrno: Czechs support Croatia´s EU bid because of their holiday memories
Czech EU presidency: Position of Ukraine
Jan Švejnar: Next crisis? Just a matter of time...
Zbyněk Boldiš: Blackout is just a matter of time
MEP Libor Roucek: EU must seek to dampen fears from nuclear energy
