2007/2008 Czech Presidency

 

 

(June 2007 - June 2008)

 

 

 

2. Summary of the Objectives of the Czech Presidency of the Visegrad Group

 

 

4. Main Priorities of the Czech Presidency

4.1 Streamlining the V4 Countries' Cooperation Mechanism within the EU

4.2 V4 Communication and Information Strategy

4.3 Promoting Democracy and Human Rights in the World

4.4 International Visegrad Fund

 

5.1 EU Reform Process

5.2 Priorities of Presidencies of the Council of the European Union

5.3 Internal Market Liberalisation and Free Movement of Labour

5.4 Support for Integration Process in Eastern and South-East Europe

5.5 EU Enlargement

 

6. Foreign Policy Issues
6.1 V4+ Cooperation
6.2 Coalition for Visa Equality
6.3 Focus on relevant political issues
6.4 CoE Chairman Priorities

 

7.1 Interior

7.2 Transport

7.3 Culture

7.4 Industry and Trade

7.5 Environment

7.6 Education, Youth and Sports

7.7 Finance

7.8 Labour and Social Affairs

7.9 Regional Policy

7.10 Agriculture

7.11 Defence

 

The Czech Presidency of the Visegrad Group from June 2007 to June 2008 will run parallel to the Portuguese and Slovenian Presidencies of the Council of the European Union (the second half of 2007 and the first half of 2008 respectively). The programme will reflect the priorities of these Presidencies while ensuring continuity with items on the agenda of Slovakia's V4 Presidency, which will be developed further. The programme will draw on the constituent documents signed in 1991 in Visegrad, in 1999 in Bratislava and in 2002 in Esztergom, as well as on the Kroměříž Declaration of the V4 Prime Ministers and this Declaration's individual Cooperation Guidelines (May 2004, available at www.visegradgroup.eu).

 

The Visegrad Group now finds itself in one of the most intensive periods of cooperation, characterized in particular by the principles of voluntariness, responsibility and solidarity. Over its existence the format of the Visegrad Group has become a natural part of regional policy in Central Europe, and in the past two years the Visegrad countries' European Union membership has seen EU affairs become a natural part of the consulting process within the V4 format. The Visegrad Group has reached a consensus in several significant areas of EU policy, such as the preparations for the Financial Perspectives (2007 - 2013), freedom of movement for workers, and the Services Directive; through its activities - such as its involvement in the expansion of the Schengen Area - it has helped equalize relations among countries in the EU and thus enhance the EU's prestige in its own countries and in general. By means of its grant and scholarship schemes, the International Visegrad Fund contributes not only to the further knitting of the civic basis in the V4 countries, but also promotes processes of democratization, transformation and integration in other countries.

 

Besides fostering a constructive V4 stance within the EU and cultivating further support for the V4's civic initiatives and the programmes of the International Visegrad Fund, the programme of the Czech Presidency of the V4 aims to raise broader awareness of the Visegrad Group's activities in its own member states and in other countries, to make the V4 countries' mechanism of mutual cooperation - on which increasing demands are being placed - more transparent and clear-cut, to maintain the group's trend of openness towards other entities, and to enhance efficiency in all areas of cooperation.

 

Given the large rise in the number of V4 and V4+ meetings at official and working level, we consider one of the Czech Presidency's tasks to be the streamlining and improving the transparency of the mechanism applied for the purposes of cooperation and the organization of meetings in these formats and other mutual discussions. The creation of a clearly organized mechanism would centre on the following areas:

 

The V4 countries, by dint of their recent historical experience and current set of values, are committed to promoting democracy and human rights throughout the world. As they seek to implement this goal, they will cooperate with other countries, international organizations and the nongovernmental sector. With this in mind, during the Czech Presidency expert and political consultations will be initiated and specific projects in this field will be supported.

 
4.3 V4 Communication and Information Strategy

 

The Czech Presidency will also focus on raising public awareness - in V4 countries and beyond this region - as regards the specific tasks of Visegrad cooperation, and on streamlining the exchange of information within the Visegrad Group. This objective will be specifically fulfilled by the maximum possible cooperation of the Presidency with the V4 public relations coordinator at the IVF in Bratislava, via the setting of public relations priorities, and through ordinary communication channels in place within the V4. An efficiently running external communication policy should boost information exchanges and the presentation of the V4 in selected regions where the Visegrad countries share common interests. The priorities of the communication strategy will include the enhanced presentation of IVF-backed projects, especially strategic projects.

 

IVF programmes help reinforce mutual ties between citizens in V4 member states and are consistent with the priorities of the Visegrad Group's foreign policy. The Czech Presidency of the V4 will promote the realization and emergence of new IVF programmes now that budget resources have increased to € 5 million a year. In this context, the Czech Presidency will explore the possibilities to support agreed intergovernmental cooperation projects through the IVF. The IVF's activities will reflect the different areas and priorities of the Czech Presidency's programme.

 

 

 

During the Czech presidency, the Visegrad Group will actively embrace current issues of European integration, especially in relation to the EU reform process. With reference to the debate on the EU's new institutional framework, the V4 member countries will consult their opinions with each other so that they can contribute to a solution that will respect the interests of all EU Member States. The reform process should culminate in the more efficient performance of the EU, which will respond better to the everyday needs of its citizens.
 

 

The Czech Presidency will take into account the priorities of the Portuguese and Slovenian Presidencies of the Council of the EU, which should include further discussions on the future of Europe, discussions on the new institutional framework of Europe, the further enlargement of the EU and deeper regional cooperation, the development of the Stabilization and Association Process for countries in the Western Balkans, strengthening of the European Neighbourhood Policy, energy security issues, the consolidation of transatlantic relations, the reinforcement of trade relations, cross-cultural dialogue, competitiveness in the fields of the internal market, research and education, the information society, environmental protection and cooperation with other regions and international organizations.
 

 

Within the EU, the Visegrad Group will seek further liberalization of the internal market in connection with the four fundamental freedoms. One of the priorities of V4 countries in relation to the European Union is the coordination of efforts to bring an end to transitional periods impeding the free movement of workers from new EU Member States.

 

A specific area of V4 foreign policy activity are countries in east and southeast Europe. V4 will develop its activities in full accordance with principles of the ENP. During the Czech Presidency, the V4 will promote activities that support the integration and pro-European orientation of these countries within the scope of the CFSP and all EU formats. The Czech Presidency will follow up on the priorities of the Slovak Presidency - continue the special programme of liaison with Ukraine, launched in 2005, first steps in closer cooperation with Moldova in 2007, on the support of the democratization process in Belarus as a priority from 2006. Encouragement and assistance with the ongoing reform agenda in the South Caucasus countries will be also a priority.

 

V4 countries are in favour of opening the European perspective for all the countries able to meeting the "Copenhagen criteria". The Visegrad Group is convinced that EU enlargement is a process that will make Europe more stable and give it extra clout in the world, and therefore the process should further be open. V4 states will provide candidate and potential candidate countries with political support and technical assistance in the form of the know-how they have gained from their own experience of the transformation and accession process.

 

 

 

The Czech Presidency will strive to reinforce the existing forms of V4+ cooperation and establish new contacts where there are finely honed notions of what is to be achieved. The V4 countries currently cooperate in particular in the format of the Regional Partnership (V4 countries, Austria, Slovenia), in V4+ format with the Benelux countries, the Nordic Council, the Baltic States, Ukraine, Moldova, Japan. It is exploring possible areas of cooperation with GUAM countries.

The Czech V4 Presidency would like to involve third subjects in V4 foreign policy activities oriented at the development assistance to transforming regions in its neighbourhood, aimed at: regional stabilization, addressing open issues, helping to develop "regional ownership" in the regions, assisting the regions in the efforts to get closer to the Euro-Atlantic structures and channelling economic assistance into the mentioned regions. This would include for example cooperation with Germany in the initiatives towards Eastern European countries; further assistance to Western Balkan states in the format of Regional Partnership; or cooperation with Japan towards South Caucasus countries.

6.2 Coalition for Visa Equality

 

The Visegrad Group countries will strive to achieve success in their negotiations with the USA, based on the platform of the "Coalition for Visa Equality". The goal of this platform is to remove the "visa asymmetry" and reach visa-free travel to the USA.

Similarly, the V4 countries will remain engaged in talks with Canada with the same goal of reaching reciprocal, i.e. visa-free travel to Canada. These negotiations with the Canadian administration will be based on the EU-platform.

On top of this "coalition approach", each country of the Visegrad Group will remain engaged in their own, bilateral discussions with the USA, and Canada, respectively, with the aim of achieving visa reciprocity.
 

 

The Visegrad Group will continuously focus on relevant current political issues such as Schengen cooperation, energy security or further development of a mechanism of mutual support and coordination in acquiring headquarters of the European Union and international bodies including nomination of key personnel for these bodies. Taking into account current situation the V4 will develop regional cooperation in these fields.
 

 

The Czech Presidency will take into account the priorities of the Slovak Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which shall include particularly support and promotion of the active civil society; coordination of the cooperation with the other organisations, particularly OSCE, UN and EU; support to the permanent efficiency of the European Convention on Human Rights; support and promotion of the common values - democracy, good governance and rule of law, including use of the CoE positive tools and programmes; the fight against all forms of hatred, against discrimination, racism, anti-Semitism, xenophobia, extreme nationalism and chauvinism, and for the promotion of the truth about the Holocaust.

 

The key priority of the Czech Presidency of the V4 in the field of the judiciary and the interior will be the finalization of preparations to enter the Schengen area and the discontinuance of checks at internal borders.

Activities connected with the implementation of the long-running strategy of joint entry to the Schengen area for all V4 countries will take place primarily in two forums: meetings of interior ministers and the operations of the V4 working party for Schengen cooperation.

 

 

Another topic that will be discussed by the V4 is the conflict between the application of Dublin II and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

The negotiations of V4 representatives should centre on the new dimension of the application of the Dublin system in V4 states and subsequent cooperation in dealing with complaints presented to the European Court of Human Rights concerning transfers carried out as part of the application of the Dublin II Regulation.

 

 

In terms of security, the Czech Presidency of the V4 will concentrate on the following basic themes and activities:

Other areas that the Czech Presidency will focus on include further activities by the Working Group of the V4 Countries and Austria Working Group for Combating Extremism, the exchange of 'good examples' in the fight against the cybernetic threat (exchanges of information between V4 countries as they address various situations in this field, discussions on the benefits of setting up specialized centres to deal with cybernetic threats in the individual V4 countries), and expert liaison with officials specializing in crisis management.

 

 

In the field of police cooperation, the Czech Presidency will try to reinforce the Visegrad countries' mutual relations and contacts in the area of international cooperation, both in the field of legal assistance in criminal proceedings and in the exchange of police information.

The Czech Presidency will place a great emphasis on enhancing the involvement of the police in environmental issues (exchanges for police experts on environmental issues, establishing contact with a view to subsequent exchanges of police information, attendance at seminars and events on the environment).

 

 

Under the Czech Presidency, cooperation will continue between managing authorities in the fields of fire protection, protection of the public and civil-emergency planning in V4 countries.

In the second half of 2007 and, if necessary, in the first half of 2008, the Fire Service Directorate in the Czech Republic will host a conference of fire and civil protection representatives from V4 countries to discuss topics related to mutual cooperation and the relevant forms and methods.

 

 

During the Czech Presidency, there will be significant changes in V4 cooperation in the field of public administration. The first substantial change is that, in a break from tradition, activities related to public administration will now be aligned with the presidency. This development will enter into force as of 1 July 2007, i.e. as of the Czech Presidency. Another significant change is the dismantling of the standing working parties. This move was prompted by the fact that their focus had become too rigid; V4 states are faced with numerous challenges in public administration, which it would be more advisable to tackle with flexibility.

 
7.2 Transport

 

The Czech Presidency's transport priorities will include:

Other themes:

The Visegrad Group's efforts in the transport sector will focus on cooperation with other countries in the Central European region, such as Austria.

 

 

During the Czech Presidency of the Visegrad Group, there are plans for two meetings of culture ministers. The 17th meeting will take place in Slovakia in October 2007, and the 18th meeting will be held in the Czech Republic in the first half of 2008. These meetings will be preceded by working discussions drawing together the directors of the culture ministries' foreign departments and experts in the cultural aspects of the Visegrad Group.

During the Czech Presidency of the Visegrad Group, as a matter of priority cultural cooperation will concentrate on:

 

The Czech Presidency will focus on energy sector as a significant area of economic cooperation among countries in the Central European region with economic as well as still increasing security implications. In this regard the Czech Presidency will initiate meetings at appropriate expert as well as political level.

The Czech Presidency's energy priorities will be electricity and heating, nuclear energy, oil and liquid fuels, gas and cooperation in the field of renewable energy sources.

 

The Visegrad Group countries are aware how significant their close cooperation is in effectively meeting the goals of the Lisbon Strategy. In the field of economical policy during the Czech Presidency considers the following measures to have the highest priority:

 

The Czech Presidency's main plans in this area are:

 

The environmental cooperation of Visegrad Group countries is intensive and continuous. The Czech Presidency is keen to continue this trend.

 

On 24-25 May 2007, the annual ministerial meeting will be held in Prague. Under the Czech Presidency, environmental cooperation will focus on the following areas:

 

A major priority of the Czech Presidency will be cooperation in the field of education. Its activities will centre on:

Besides this main priority, attention will also focus on the following areas:

7.7 Finance

 

In the financial sector the Czech Presidency´s focus will be on issues related to the review of the EU budget, having in mind that this topic is likely to be one of the priorities of the Czech Republic's presidency of the European Council. A solid understanding of EU Member States´s positions is a prerequisite for the successful launch of discussions on budget review at European level. The Czech Presidency of the V4 is therefore a timely opportunity for the Czech Republic to become acquainted with the views of the V4 member states regarding individual aspects of the review before the publication of the White Paper (2008/2009) formally initiating the review. Thus during the Czech Presidency of the V4 several expert consultations at various levels will be arranged to discuss the EU budget.

Apart from that, all V4 countries have been preparing in accordance with the Act of Accession their entry into the Euro zone. In this respect, they are required to meet the Maastricht convergence criteria. Given the process leading the V4 countries to meeting these criteria and in view of regular convergence reports prepared by the European Commission and the European Central Bank, the Czech Presidency finds it necessary to exchange information in areas such as real and nominal convergence, fiscal consolidation and institutional aspects of preparations for the introduction of the euro. In this respect, and in the interest of improving preparedness to assume common opinions within the EU, expert and ministerial consultations will be initiated on the theme of the single currency.

Appropriate attention during the Czech Presidency will also be paid to tax administration and the EEA/Norwegian financial mechanism and the Swiss financial mechanism.

The Czech Presidency also considers the idea of holding an expert meeting to discuss the renegotiation of Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (IPPAs) concluded with third countries, with regard to the accession of V4 countries to the EU and the termination of IPPAs concluded with EU Member States.

 

 

The main themes in this area are:

There are plans to hold several multi-day seminars and workshops on the themes above for national experts. The purpose of these events will be to encourage the further exchange of information and experience between individual V4 member states in the field of international customs proceedings, more dynamic cooperation and consultations, the result of which will be the formulation of a common position and mutual opinions of all V4 members.

 

 

During the Czech Presidency, a coordination and consultation mechanism will also be in place for labour and social affairs. It will focus on:

Attention will also be paid to:

In the field of labour and social affairs, one of the priorities of V4 countries in relation to the European Union is the coordination of efforts to bring an end to transitional periods impeding the free movement of workers from new EU Member States.

 

 

In the field of regional and structural policy, the Czech Presidency of the Visegrad Group will continue the previous intensive cooperation and achievements recorded in this sphere by the V4. There will continue to be regular meetings of the working party for regional and structural policy, which along with the working party for housing policy will take over the agenda put into motion by the Slovak Presidency; the primary focus will be on the following areas and themes:

Another topic for discussion should be Regulation (EC) No. 1082/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of the 5 July 2006 on a European grouping of territorial cooperation (EGTC). Attention should be paid to the following questions:

 

Cooperation in the field of tourism will follow up on the priorities of the Slovak Presidency. V4 countries are committed to continue the cooperation both in tourism diplomacy and tourism promotion, in the spirit of 'European Quartet - One Melody'; the pooling of knowledge, experience and financial resources will also continue with a view to the better, joint promotion of tourism, especially in relation to overseas markets.

 

 

 

During the Czech Presidency of the Visegrad Group, attention will be paid to the following areas in particular:

 

During the Czech Presidency, there are plans to organize a meeting at the level of defence ministers, chiefs of staff, defence policy directors, personnel directors and directors of the armament sections of the V4 states. Cooperation in the field of defence will focus, as a matter of priority, on the following areas: