Dupa cateva zile in cehia, doua zile petrecute pe la externe, o conferinta mare despre prioritatile presedintiei cehe, intalniri cu multa lume iata cateva idei si colectii de citate despre prioritatile presedintiei cehe a UE care incepe la 1 ianuarie 2009.

  • Prioritatile principale: parteneriatul estic + promovarea democratiei (inclusiv cuba, burma, belarus). Rusia – este o prioritate neanuntata.
  • Toti mentioneaza ca modul cum vor decurge alegerile din Moldova sunt importante. Si cehilor le pasa de democratie.

  • Eeastern Partnership for Cz is a new enlargement process. Keep the EU perspective open
  • In Bxl the first thing you hear on the Eastern neighbourhood is “It’s not possible”.
  • Western Europe under-expects from the Cz presidency, and Balkans and East neighbours – over-expect.
  • Early 2009 – power vacuum. Russia will test the new US president (particularly if it is Obama) + will test the Cz EU presidency.
  • Netherlands blocks almost everything on the East and Balkans.
  • Md and Ukraine – they have a lot to do in the next 5 years or so from what is on offer. But they focus on requesting even more without delivering and benefiting fully from what is already on the table.
  • If there is one pro-active actor on EP – it is the commission. The real problem are EU member states.
  • EU should be more present in Crimea – to make it more difficult for Russia to make a mess.
  • The neighbourhood debate often ends in the pro-Russia vs anti-Russia trap. If you frame the ENP as anti-Russian it is immediately blocked. The only way to push the ENP is to avoid being anti-Russian. Avoid this trap. Poland often falls in this trap.
  • Russia respects geopolitical thinking. They say “we understand why you want the radar in Cz. To have the Americans between Russia and Germany”
  • Cz will not have time for 27+6 sectorial meetings. Only a 27+6 summit. The ministerials are for later presidencies (Sweden and Poland).
  • The EP is written mainly by Sweden and Cz, with minimal Polish input.
  • Sweden is more realistic of how Brussels work. Poland only has grandiose ideas and little follow up through the institutions.
  • Tusk thinks only about being a president, and Sikorksi about being prime minister. Little real commitment to ENP.