BRUSSELS 1 January 2009 Czech Republic takes helm of European Union in likely absence of new full-time EU chief 

The Czech Republic, which has a famously euroskeptic president, Vaclav Klaus, takes the helm of the European Union. Under the bloc's new Lisbon Treaty, a new full-time EU chief was supposed to be in place on the same day. Treaty ratification delays have pushed the selection of the new chief well into 2009. And there remains the question of whether the new style EU presidency will replace the 6-month old-style presidency or operate in tandem with it.

The exact nature and status of the role is yet to be decided.

President Klaus, a center-right conservative, won a second five-year term on Feb 15. A fierce Euroskeptic who is opposed to any transfer of powers from nation states to the EU, Klaus has also stirred controversy by challenging the dangers of global warming. The Czech government and Sweden, the EU president for July to December in 2009, have voiced worries about any power-sharing EU presidential arrangement.

The Czech government has opted for "Europe without barriers" to be the key message of the country's 2009 EU presidency. With France and Sweden on board as presidency trio partners, Prague aims to lobby for free movement of people, services and liberalised trade policy.

The Financial Times speculates that national governments could choose the new president some time after the European Parliament election in Jun 2009, or even as early as September or October in 2008 -- if the ratification problems can be resolved.

There is also conflicting speculation on whether the new-style EU presidency will have any clout. An editorial in Britain's Independent newspaper suggests the job comes third in the pecking order, behind the President of the Commission, currently Jose Manuel Barroso, and the foreign affairs supremo, likely to be Javier Solana, who already holds half the post. The Financial Times, on the other hand, suggests the EU president could evolve into Europe’s most influential leader and the continent’s public face to the world.

Some names on the table are former British prime minister Tony Blair and Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker.

RELATED READING:

Sweden, Czechs worried about EU's future power sharing (EU Business 15 Jan 2008)

Doubts over EU president's start date (FT 14 Jan 2008)

John Rentoul: If Blair runs for the EU presidency, Brown will be the fall guy – whatever the result
(Independent 15 Feb 2008)

Vaclav Klaus re-elected Czech president (15 Feb 2008)