On the 1^st of January 2009 the Czech Republic assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first six months of the year. This is the first time that the Czech Republic is holding the Presidency since its accession to the EU in 2004. 

In the words of Mirek Topolánek, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, the main priorities of the Czech Presidency can be summed up as “the 3 E’s”: Economy, Energy and External Relations. The motto of the Czech Presidency, ‘Europe without Barriers’, reflects the four basic freedoms: the free movement of goods, capital, workers, and services. Furthermore, the logo of the Czech Presidency adds a symbolic fifth freedom: free movement of information and knowledge.”

To discuss the priorities of the Czech Republic’s Presidency, as well as Malta’s response, the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Malta and the Malta-EU Steering & Action Committee organised a public dialogue. It was held on Thursday 15^th January 2009 at the Hotel Phoenicia, Floriana.

The discussion was opened by H.E. Vladimír Zavázal, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Malta, who presented the Czech Republic’s Programme and outlined its priorities for the next six months.  His intervention was followed by that of the Hon. Dr Tonio Borg, Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, who provided an insight into Malta’s reactions, perspectives and priorities. This was followed by a question and answer session with contributions from the floor. The discussion was chaired by Dr Vanni Xuereb, Head of MEUSAC.