April 6, 2009 - Barack Obama visited Prague on 4 and 5 April as part of his first European trip as US president. The visit was transformed into an historical event occurring at a moment that was thoroughly awkward for the Czech Republic. Anka Dobslaw and Eva van de Rakt more»

Beyond zero-sum thinking in the EU’s Eastern Partnership

- May 12, 2009 - The European Union’s energy security has been severely tested over the past year. August’s Georgian conflict underlined the possible dangers of diversification into the post-Soviet space, with bombs landing in the vicinity of several crucial gas and oil pipelines including South Caucasus and Baku-Supsa, while the Russian-Ukrainian gas stand-off sent shivers across Europe in January. Roderick Kefferpütz and Danila Bochkarev more»

How to face Iran?

- April 8, 2009 - As expected, the main theme of US President Barack Obama's speech at Prague Castle was non-proliferation of nuclear arms. more»

“A New Start in Transatlantic Relations -The View from the Czech EU Presidency”

- February 11, 2009 - An Address by H.E. Karel Schwarzenberg, Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic. By Lucas Olson more»

Missile defense: Postpone and re-evaluate

- The European (or “third”) pillar of missile defense is a planned component of the American national missile defense system, tasked with protecting the United States of America (and indirectly, their allies) from possible ballistic missile attack. Ondřej Liška more»

What has the conflict in Gaza shown?

- February 3, 2009 - After 23 days of fighting in the Gaza Strip, it is now possible to ask whether the moribund Middle East peace process can be successfully restarted and result in a solution to the decades of ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Irena Kalhousová more»

Schwarzenberg’s Mission to the Middle East

- January 29, 2009 - The Czech EU Presidency has evidently begun more abruptly than the Czechs ever wanted. At the very moment the country took up the “scepter” of the presidency, the conflict between Hamas and Israel in Gaza was in full blaze, and the Czech Republic immediately had to engage in one of the most closely-followed world conflicts ever. Irena Kalhousová and Jan Fingerland more»

Foreign relations priorities of the Czech Presidency

- January 13, 2009 - The preparation of the priorities for the EU Presidency is a very long-term process. It involves not just representatives of the government and ministries, but also experts through their participation in professional groups. Irena Kalhousová more»

The European Environment Troika with the European Commissioner for Environment, Stavros Dimas, and the Ministers of Environment of the Czech Republic and Sweden, Martin Bursik and Andreas Carlgren, whose countries hold the E.U. Presidency in 2009, on Monday called for enhanced transatlantic cooperation on climate and energy policy in view of the COP 15 in Copenhagen. Till Kötter more»

Member State ministers want to assist developing countries with climate protection – but are waiting for the USA before they say how

- March 6, 2009 - Long-term aims are important for the consistency of policies in the area of climate protection, but the absence of medium-range aims is now holding back progress in the international negotiations on a new post-Kyoto agreement. Ondřej Rut more»

Guaranteeing energy security of the EU Member States within the framework of the common electricity market

- February 18, 2009 - A conference on “Guaranteeing energy security of the EU Member States within the framework of the common electricity market” took place on Friday 30.1.2009 in Ostrava. Ondřej Pašek more»

The role of the Czech EU-Presidency in the International Climate Negotiations

- The Czech Ministry of Environment is working very actively on the climate issue during the Czech EU-Presidency.  more»

The Energy Presidency?

- January 23, 2009 - Energy will indisputably be one of the leitmotifs of the Czech EU Presidency, but much will depend on how the government approaches the issue. Vojtěch Kotecký more»