Prague – The reactions of Czech politicians to the choice of the President of the European Fee Ursula von der Leyen to assign the nation the place of European Commissioner for Worldwide Partnerships mirror the stability of energy. Political scientists’ opinions are usually not unequivocal. Based on them, some disappointment is felt, ambitions and probabilities have been increased, however the agenda shouldn’t be dangerous. The portfolio combines commerce, growth coverage, geopolitical relations, and safety. Jozef Síkela (STAN) will even work with the biggest price range among the many present Czech members of the EC and can head one of many largest directorates-general, highlighted Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS). Based on the opposition, after months of negotiations led by Fiala, the Czech Republic obtained an invisible fee targeted on selling EU values and cooperation with growing international locations, which has no actual affect and doesn’t assist the Czech Republic in any method.
Síkela himself acknowledged on social media that the worldwide partnership portfolio offers a chance to concentrate on strengthening European financial safety, diversifying suppliers of essential uncooked supplies, and opening new markets for European firms. “My purpose was to safe a robust financial portfolio for the Czech Republic, and provided that worldwide partnerships have a very important price range and one of many largest directorates-general in all the European Fee, I imagine I’ll achieve making this portfolio actually important,” he stated. He later added that his portfolio consists of “healthcare, vitality, renewable sources, new applied sciences, transportation.”
“The agenda Jozef Síkela ought to be accountable for doesn’t comprise the Czech Republic’s precedence pursuits. For a lot of causes, the Czech Republic is rather more fascinated by agendas associated to inner EU affairs,” thinks political scientist Petr Kaniok from Masaryk College. Based on Viktor Daněk from the Institute for European Coverage Europeum, the prospect was undoubtedly “for one thing of a considerably increased order.” Based on him, backroom politics and the truth that Fee President von der Leyen doesn’t essentially want the votes of the ECR faction (and ODS) within the European Parliament might need damaged the Czech Republic’s success. Nevertheless, the portfolio is certainly not dangerous in response to Daněk. “Quite the opposite, I might say we will tick off many bins: strategically vital space (China, uncooked materials safety), large price range and directorate-general, vital subject for Czech exports and EU competitiveness, a portfolio from which we will affect different key insurance policies (local weather, migration),” he added.
Síkela will even be accountable for the EU’s International Gateway funding initiative, with which the union desires to compete with China’s new Silk Street venture. The initiative envisions investments of as much as 300 billion euros (7.5 trillion crowns) in infrastructure in growing international locations within the coming years, particularly in Africa, India, Latin America, and the Pacific. (17 September)