“It’s about the UK now,” the prime minister said. The EU must now wait until Monday when May should introduce new steps but Babiš hopes for a clear agreement.
According to Tomáš Petříček, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Britain must say what to do next. “I am sorry that the oldest democracy in the world is divided into three unappeasable camps. The departure of the United Kingdom from the EU is getting stuck but we will surely be able to find a solution,” Petříček said, who considered the Brexit agreement the least damaging solution.
The Czech Republic is, however, prepared for all scenarios, thinks Petříček and Interior Minister Jan Hamáček agrees with him. On Thursday, he plans to hold talks with parliamentary parties on how to adopt a law addressing the position of British citizens in the Czech Republic.
The draft law addressing relations between the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom in case Britain leaves the EU without agreement was approved last week by the government that now wants to seek an accelerated approval of the bill in the House.
In the future, the European Commission should be de-politicized according to PM Babiš, and people from real life instead of professional politicians should be elected to the European Parliament. He would like the EU to return to its substance, four fundamental freedoms, and the Member States to have the main say.
How long can the new era last?
A no-deal Brexit is now more likely than ever before, and it’s seemingly impossible to find any middle ground. But that’s how politics and the media are these days, drama to the very last minute with a sudden happy ending.
Babiš cancels EP address as he has ‘nothing to say to current MEPs’
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has canceled his speech at the European Parliament which was due in mid-January.
British Parliament sends a clear message to Brussels
Now it is much clearer what the next Brexit steps are. The Brits want to leave the EU with a deal, changing the Irish backstop in an already negotiated proposal. Meanwhile, more delays and Labour’s alternative plan that may have led to a new referendum were rejected by Parliament.
Huawei should be discussed across the EU
The European Union should deal with the Chinese Huawei technologies issue, Czech PM Andrej Babiš said after attending the Davos Economic Forum.
European elections will see a low turnout and a Babis victory
The turnout at the European elections is traditionally low in the Czech Republic, and even though we can assume that an aggravated political situation and a hot topic of migration will draw in more voters, we cannot expect miracles, political commentator Viliam Buchert predicts.
Great Britain, a country in the EU’s iron maiden
It was the worst defeat for any British government in history. Prime Minister Theresa May achieved something almost impossible, she angered Parliament, political parties and most of her nation at the same time. Yet, dogged attacks against the poor little May are quite unfair.
Brexit is bad for the Czech Republic
While the position of France and Germany will be strengthened by the departure of the UK from the European Union, the Czech Republic will lose its frequent ally. According to a Czech diplomat who wishes to remain anonymous, the Czech Republic will have to deal with unusual partners such as the Scandinavians, the Baltic States and Portugal.
Czech government approves a hard Brexit bill
The Czech Minister of the Interior, Social Democrat Jan Hamacek, prepared a bill for a hard Brexit option based on requests of all Ministries. In a worst-case scenario, it is just three months away and part of the opposition also calls for a quick adoption of the so-called lex Brexit. The Czech government approved the bill and sent it to parliament.
Klaus: The EU wants to punish the UK for saying it’s not the best
Former president Václav Klaus shared his opinion on the previous year in an interview with ParlamentniListy.cz. Giving Hungary as an example, Klaus said that both the Czech Republic and the EU need politicians with clear minds and opinions. He also criticized the European Union for its behavior towards the UK.
A sharp exchange of views at the EU summit
The Czech Republic could be under certain circumstances expelled from Schengen, said Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel at the EU summit. It is an absurd threat, his Czech counterpart Andrej Babiš said.
Tomský: The EU will not survive
Political scientist Alexander Tomský doesn’t believe that the European Union will exist in 2028 and will be swept away by the next crisis.
Babis: We need a strong Europe
Czech PM believes that the next European elections will prove what the silent majority actually thinks about illegal migration.