The Czech Republic became Thursday the first former Eastern Bloc state to take over the rotating EU Presidency.

Thus, assuming the EU Presidency from France, the Czech Republic also became the second former communist country to chair the EU after the former Yugoslav republic of Slovenia chaired the Union in January-June of 2008.

According to wide-spread accounts, the Czech Presidency would be marked by the three "e"-s: economy, energy, and external relations. It will have to deal with a global economic crisis, tensions with Russia over energy supplies, and an ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East, among others.

In addition, the ratification of the Lisbon Reform Treaty remains the main issue on the EU agenda, it was during the French Presidency. Paradoxically, the ratification of the Treaty faces difficulties in the Czech Republic itself.

The Lower House of the Czech Parliament has already approved the Treaty but its ratification is pending a Supreme Court ruling due in September or October.

Furthermore, the Czech President Vaclav Klaus - an outspoken critic of the treaty - has stated he would not sign it unless Ireland had ratified it before that. The present ratification debacle started in June when the Irish voters rejected the Treaty in a referendum.

In his New Year's address, Klaus said that concerns about limitations on the democratic rights of citizens are the basis for his doubts about the currently-stalled EU treaty. The Czech leader also urged citizens to actively participate in June's European Parliament elections. He has also said he would refuse to fly the EU flag over Prague Castle.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!