Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

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Statement of the MFA on the EC Regular Reports

 

The Czech Republic welcomes the EC document Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2007-2008 and the Regular Reports on the progress of the respective negotiating countries, candidates and potential candidates, which evaluates in an objective way the progress achieved during the last year and defines the main challenges for the next procedure...(9/11/2007)

The Czech Republic welcomes the EC document Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2007-2008 and the Regular Reports on the progress of the respective negotiating countries, candidates and potential candidates, which evaluates in an objective way the progress achieved during the last year and defines the main challenges for the next procedure. The Czech Republic especially accentuates, that the EC again appreciates the benefits of the last EU enlargement . The Czech Republic agrees with the EC opinion, that the process of informing the public on advantages and challenges of the enlargement is primarily a task for the member states.

The Czech Republic agrees with the proposed EU Enlargement Strategy for the short-term period, which determines clear starting points for the continuation of the integration process on the basis of individual readiness of the respective countries and their progress in fulfiling tasks embodied in the Accession, respectively European Partnership. The revision of these partnerships will contribute to an even more clear definition of main priorities and will help the respective countries to focus fully on key tasks. Fulfiling these tasks will bring them closer to the EU membrship

The Czech Republic fully supports the EC intention to widen contacts between people and progressively make concrete steps leading to a visa liberalisation, including the preparation of a road-map for the respective countries. In the framework of its Presidency in 2009, the Czech Republic will actively contribute to the achievemnt of this goal.

The Czech Republic appreciates the progress made by Croatia and the fact that the accession negotiations are heading to the decisive phase, and calls on Croatia for an even more intensive reform effort. During its Presidency, the Czech Republic will work for a significant progress of the negotiations, eventually their ending in case Croatia proves to be ready.

The Czech Republic regrets that significant progress was not achieved in Turkey. This result was influenced by the political situation inside the country and presidential and extraordinary parliamentary elections. The Czech Republic believes that the new Government and President in Turkey, having obtained a strong electoral mandate, will be able to progress in the reforms. This would have an impact on the accession negotiations aimed at a full-fledged EU membership of Turkey.

The Czech Republic fully supports the integration of Western Balkans countries into the EU. We share the EC concern about the slowing of progress in political area in several countries. Pleasing is the dynamic economic grow in the region, which will surely be boosted by the new regional agreement on free trade CEFTA. The Czech Republic agrees with the EC opinion, that for the stability of the region it is necessary to solve the status of Kosovo as soon as possible.

Unofficial translation

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