This course examines the position of the Czech Republic in the European Union and the Czech policy within the EU. It starts with historical and geopolitical context of the European integration during and after the Cold War until its biggest enlargement in 2004. We will summarize hopes and anxieties associated with the Eastern enlargement both on the side of the European Union (then EU15) and on the side of the Czech Republic (and the CEE countries as such).
We will assess how the Czech Republic is represented within the European Union on the governmental level but also on through direct representatives in the European parliament. The course also addresses conduct of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2009. Second part of the course will focus on Czech priorities with regard to selected individual policies of the European Union (Common Foreign and Security Policy, Regional Policy, Economic and Monetary Union, and the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice. Lectures will assess, on one hand, the impact of such policies on the Czech Republic and on the other hand, Czech influence on its implementation and future development.
- Učitel: Vít Beneš