Priorities of the Czech EU Presidency 2009 January 2009, Prague

GENERAL FRAMEWORK OF THE CZECH PRESIDENCY January 2009  Current Developments (financial crisis and economic slowdown)  Institutional issues linked to the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty  EP Elections

HISTORICAL CONNOTATIONS OF THE CZECH PRESIDENCY January 2009  5 years after the biggest enlargement in EU history  20 years after fall of Iron Curtain  30 years after the first direct elections to EP  60 years after founding of NATO

PRESIDENCY MOTTO January 2009 EUROPE WITHOUT BARRIERS  Removing existing internal barriers within the EU, which prevent full use of EU potential  Removing external barriers of international trade and global economy (liberalisation) as well as in other cooperation with EU’s neighbours and strategic partners

PRIORITIES OF THE PRESIDENCY January 2009  E conomy  E nergy  E uropean Union in the World

ECONOMY January 2009  Resolving financial crisis – avoid over-regulation and reject protectionism (G20 Declaration, November 2008; December 2008 European Council conclusions)  Reinforcing EU competitiveness  Fully applying all internal market freedoms  Improving regulatory environment  Research and development, innovation, education  External trade

ENERGY January 2009  EU energy  EU energy security  Internal electricity and gas market  Energy efficiency and low-carbon energy sources  Climate protection

EUROPEAN UNION IN THE WORLD January 2009  Eastern partnership – European Neighbourhood Policy  Western Balkans – EU enlargement  Transatlantic relations  Other issues:  Promoting EU-Israeli relations  Human rights, transformation policy and development cooperation  Area of freedom, security and justice

PREPARATIONS FOR THE CZECH PRESIDENCY January 2009  Main priorities  Sectoral priorities and agendas (Preparation of EU Council programmes, working parties and committees)  18 month programme of French, Czech and Swedish Presidencies => Work Programme

CONSULTING ON PRIORITIES January 2009  Committee on the EU (Ministers)  Czech Parliament and Czech Members of the EP  Social and economic partners  Association of Regions, Union of Towns and Municipalities  Non-profit sector  Groups of external experts  Partners within the MS and EU institutions

WORK PROGRAMME OF THE PRESIDENCY January 2009  Final document on the general agenda of the Czech Presidency  Content: main and sectoral priorities, selected agendas of the Presidency  To be published on 5 January 2009

Thank you for your attention!