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An unnerving Czech EU presidency
October 30, 2008
As the clock ticks towards the Czech Republic’s takeover of the European Union’s six-month rotating presidency on January 1, there are signs of distinct nervousness in Brussels and some EU capitals over how Prague will cope with the challenge.
For most EU governments, the global financial crisis, economic recession, the fate of the Lisbon institutional reform treaty and relations with Russia will be the top priorities for the first half of next year. And they are not sure the Czechs see things quite the same way or, if they do, will be able to provide effective leadership at a time when the government of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek has scarcely looked weaker.
The Czechs will be the second former communist country to assume the EU presidency. Slovenia’s spell in the hot seat in the first half of this year was generally considered successful. But some EU diplomats make the point that the Slovenes did not have to confront the full-scale emergency that erupted in the world financial system or handle the Russian invasion of Georgia in August. What a relief that France, an experienced and powerful member-state, was at the controls during these crises - so the argument runs.
The main fear concerning the Czechs is that internal political squabbles between Topolanek and his opponents will spill into the EU arena, damaging the country’s ability to manage EU business efficiently. Recent regional polls and elections to the Czech Senate brought crushing victories for the opposition Social Democrats, whose leader, Jiri Paroubek, says Topolanek’s government should resign and be replaced by a caretaker government that would hold power for the duration of the Czech EU presidency.
The Social Democrats portray themselves as convinced pro-Europeans, committed to closer EU integration. So it may seem odd that they are proposing arrangements that may cause endless bickering, just when the Czech Republic is taking on greater responsibilities than at any time since its creation in 1993. But politics is politics. It is only natural for an opposition party to put pressure on a government after such a triumph at the polls.
As the Czechs made detailed preparations earlier this year for their EU presidency, they identified three key themes - business competitiveness, the four freedoms (of people, goods, services and capital) and a liberal trade policy. These are worthy objectives but, so the grumbling in Brussels goes, not really enough to capture the drama of the times. Some EU officials were astonished at a recent meeting of EU finance ministers to hear the Czech minister launch into a tirade against massive state intervention to rescue European banks. It was all too reminiscent of the communist era, he complained, and the Czechs knew all about that. Not a point the others thought especially relevant, given the scale of the emergency.
Some EU governments say the case of the Czechs reinforces the importance of getting the Lisbon treaty ratified as soon as possible, so that the EU can launch its full-time presidency in place of the six-month rotating system. But in the best of worlds Lisbon won’t take effect until 2010 - and that, as they say, is another story.
Are you suggesting a French tutor over Czech presidency?If you are,i think that you should realize that the FT readers consider it not a comic,but a serious Newspaper.The FIGARO talks about this “tutorship”,but they are French Chauvinist,not British humourists.The Czechs are grown folks,and they have right to manage things the way they want.
Posted by: stefano de santis | October 30th, 2008 at 4:11 pm | Report this commentThe real icon seems to be President Václav Klaus. No sooner had he objected to flying the EU flag during the Czech Council presidency, than he objected to Sarkozy hijacking the same presidency.
True communitarian spirit…
Posted by: Ralf Grahn | October 30th, 2008 at 4:23 pm | Report this commentI would recommend Mr Barber to carefully and rationally compare his own qualification with the skills of those whom he criticizes and mocks.
For example, Mr Miroslav Kalousek, the Czech minister of finance, was just declared to be the Finance Minister of the year 2008 by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
He knows very well what he is doing. And indeed, people in Czechia are not that hysterical about the “financial crisis”. For example, investors are not withdrawing their money from their banks en masse. The anxiety is largely being imported from abroad (unsuccessfully) where it is being fanned by psychologically unstable politicians and investors. Many of the attempts to “help” make things worse.
Yes, the Czech Republic plans a common sense presidency based on good mood and stable beliefs and principles and realistic comparison of the beliefs of the EU citizens rather than hysterical, ad hoc, and irrationally huge interventions into the lives of everyone.
I am confident that the calm Czech approach will spread and will swallow most of the Europe and perhaps the whole EU before our presidency ends.
There are many other crazy things that Czechia won’t be pushing frantically - such as the policies to “fight climate change”, as various blinded people openly call their new megalomaniac attempts to control the world’s economy and perhaps Mother Nature Herself.
You know, there are many fanatical politically correct champions of Eurocracy who want ever bigger regulation, ever bigger government in Brussels, ever smaller identity of individual nations, and who want their favorite ideologies to govern forever. But the rules of the EU say that we’re going to take over the presidency.
I guess that no influential EU politician will ultimately be mad enough to question that the Czech presidency is the only possible thing that can happen on January 1st, 2009, because we could also decide that it would be safer to ask our ex-friends in Russia and its military to help us restore the basic law in Europe.
It would be appropriate to leave the speculations about the silly dreams to “siphon” the Czech presidency to be just jokes about a little Nicolas Sarkozy trying to play a new Napoleon, not a serious topic to be discussed by serious people in the newspapers.
Posted by: Luboš Motl | October 30th, 2008 at 4:31 pm | Report this commentThanks for bringing this up ,
a) in the case of “…the Czech minister launch into a tirade against massive state intervention to rescue European banks…” is worth noting that here in the USA,now we find out that the 9 big banks that got the first 125 billion dollars in the USA Congress “Bail-Out”, are about to give their top executives the same or more bonuses than in 2007, so the taxpayers money,instead of going first to re-start the lending business, what banks do, is going to dole out millions in compensations, ” …about 108 billion dollars in employee compensation and bonuses for the first 9 months of 2008,nearly the same amount as last year (WP,Oct.29,08) !!! and A.I.G., the main promoter-broker-insurance of the whole nightmare, is just burning through 123 billion dollars in Taxpayer aid and no one knows where the money is going,maybe the top executives of A.I.G., Liddy and vice-chairman Frenkel as well as Maurice Greenberg from C.V. Starr and main stockholder of AIG, know where the 123 billions are going, but who knows? except for the A.G. of N.Y.State and a few Congress members, no one cares to know or worst…
the key is to make sure, Financial Aid to Banks, in the EU or USA and the world at large goes to re-start lending, that’s what banks do and what the global economy needs,now more than ever,and now finance for solar,wind and water turbines, geothermal,electric cars ,fuel-cells and batteries,etc.bio-diesels and new jet fuels, is vital, all that with trains,buses, roads,schools,alternative energy power plants and fresh water, health and education are the key, because what we need the most is JOBS , JOBS and more JOBS.
Posted by: financialtools1@gmail.com | October 30th, 2008 at 7:29 pm | Report this commentWhy did the Czech Republic join the European Union? I don´t understand why if they hate it.
The Treaties they signed were very clear: they HAVE to join the Eurozone…in any other case they can be like NORWAY and Iceland part of the European Economic Area (EEA) where they can find all the Market priviledges they have now (access to the EU Common Market) without the obligation to be part of the Euro.
The pair of idiot Vaclavs knew perfectly what they were signing.
If you don´t want us: LEAVE THE EUROPEAN UNION.
Posted by: Enrique | October 30th, 2008 at 10:26 pm | Report this commentBeing an occassional observer in Brussels (and a Czech), I tend to believe that presidencies, national or permanent, basically do what they have to do. E.g., the current presidency negotiated a truce deal with the Russians, which saved the West’s face while allowing the aggressor state to reach their objectives. The deal would not have been much different if it was to bear Mr. Klaus’s signature.
Posted by: Benx | October 30th, 2008 at 11:42 pm | Report this commentDespite hectic activity, the current presidency failed to organize any concerted EU-effort to counter the financial crisis. Casting doubts on the next presidency’s ability to deliver by some (petty-burgeois Austrian) media may be just a way of giving way to frustrations from the French, whom only the boldest British euroskeptics dare to criticise openly.
The Czechs may not be the most trusted member nation (mainly because people don’t know much about them; see Enrique’s comment), but do not allow your own prejudice against them to make your hearts sink too low.
Brussels is not Paris and the EU ios not France.
The French endlessly promote the idea that the French vision for Europe is the only true one, and, by and large the press accept this and regusrgitate the French position as the European position.
There is another vision of europe shared by almost all the scandanavian and eastern europeans of europe as union of independant states within common economic zone, gradually this is becoming the consensus position.
The French never really accepted the failure of Louis 14 and Napolean to dominate Europe. The other EU members dont challenge the French view openly for the same reason you dont argue with people who claim to be abducted by aliens, the delusion is so complete that any argument is pointless.
Posted by: James Anderson | October 31st, 2008 at 9:10 am | Report this commentThe “Czech problem” is the to day way of hiding the unacceptable behaviour of France during the last 50 years of the European History.Let’s remember that they jeopardized NATO leaving it in the year 65,(full cold war),that they followed a personal(the person of De Gaulle and his followers) foreign politics hiding themselves behind 300000 US soldiers and their families patrolling the German front,that they never would have followed such a cynical track if the frontier of DDR would pass on the river Rhin,not the Elbe.They are used to use they allies and throw them away like old stuff when they are no more useful for their task.In Afghanistan,they show a low profile,but they want to be treated as big power in the NATO and EU.Now,they want a French de facto control over the Czecs.NO,let’s say,we are grown enough to understand your intent.We do not want you or anyone else as not requested boss.
Posted by: stefano de santis | October 31st, 2008 at 10:33 am | Report this commentDear Enrique,
the Czech Republic has naturally joined the European Union because Czechia has always been a part of Europe (it has never played any “neutral” roles) and - in fact - a part of the Western civilization; it is the very middle of Europe; and it is one of the key places that define what the word Europe means.
If you have problems to be on the same continent with Czechia, you will probably have to dig a new canal around your country because Czechia is unlikely to be detached from Europe. And if you want to create a union without countries like Czechia, I am afraid that you will have to rename it because it would certainly not be a “European” union. What about a Napoleon Empire?
We are certainly not violating any agreements about the membership in the Eurozone - which include no deadlines. Incidentally, you may know of another well-known member of the E.U. - its name is the United Kingdom - that has been using its own “pound” for much longer a time as a member of the EU than Czechia. There are very good reasons why separate currencies in separate countries are useful. This is a growing opinion among the top Czech economists and if they decide in this way, they will clearly use the legal mantinels to keep the crown as long as they can.
Best wishes
Posted by: Lubos Motl | October 31st, 2008 at 11:29 am | Report this commentLubos
Good article Mr barber, you bring up some important points that need to be addressed. In times of economic and political crisis relationships matter this is one of the reasons I think we have been very lucky to have had France leading the presidency of the EU at such a critical time. My concern with a Czech presidency of the EU, is that we will have a radical change in the US, with a new president and possibly a young and inexperienced president.Surely it would be better for the new US president to be surrounded by wise old heads (old Europe) in this time of unprecedented crisis, and transformational times.The Czechs just ‘dont get it’ from an EU perspective internally or externally there natural instinct is to be atlantist - In this epoch moment we need a presidency of the EU - that is focused on preserving and expanding the power of the EU. The Czechs just ‘dont get it’.
Posted by: KWM | October 31st, 2008 at 12:09 pm | Report this commentJames Anderson is spot on. It is just a shame that the FT wants to play the role of “National Enquirer” in spreading the Brussels equivalent of alien abduction stories.
Posted by: Freeborn John | October 31st, 2008 at 1:07 pm | Report this commentLubos,
The UK HAVE the option, included in the Treaties, not to join the Eurozone as it was a member state before Maastricht Treaty.
The Czech Republic DOES NOT HAVE that option as it was included in the Treaties signed by your representatives.
So it is not the same: the UK can keep the sterling pound but the Czech Republic or Poland cannot keep their national currencies…unless if they LEAVE the European Union.
Anyway, Norway is not part of the EU but part of the EEA (European Economic Area) and they don´t have any obligation to join the Euro.
The Czech Republic can join the EEA (European Economic Area) and keep her currency.
You have the OBLIGATION to join according to the Treaties you signed, not the UK.
So if you don´t like the euro: LEAVE!!!!
Posted by: Enrique | October 31st, 2008 at 4:34 pm | Report this commentThe Czech presidency must be avoided or weakened at all costs. The signal they send to the the rest of the union with that billboard campaign leaves no doubts that their only aim will be utter sabotage of every attempt of further european cooperation - how else can a member state dare to post a slogan which claims that the Czech government will “make it troublesome for Europe” (”Evrope to osladíme”) and still hope that the EU will remain passive, express no reservations and no attempt of self-defence? Sarkozy’s plan of stronger union MUST succeed, and there’s no better opportunity than to do it now, when the electorate, raising its eyes from ever present eurosceptic medial propaganda, finally has the chance to see that the integration saved members of eurozone from collapse and spared them the fate of Iceland or Hungary. The current Czech cabinet knows that because of US ABM unpopularity, nothing can stop them from falling. They struggle not to win a reelection but only to survive several years till next election. Under such conditions, none of them thinks about the nation’s future and the main goal of every government member is only to get as most wealth out of selling the state and union to foreign superpower as possible, before he suffers a final political death.
Posted by: Zagiel | October 31st, 2008 at 5:21 pm | Report this commentI’m glad when this Napoleonic cacophony of a French EU presidency is over. Sarkozy’s hyperactivity is only making things worse for the markets, as they are left with uncertainty as to what idiosyncratic plan Sarkozy will come up next. A Czech presidency instead will offer calmness and a sense of serenity, which is exactly what the economy needs. It will give markets time to adjust their prices, without having to worry that some bureaucrat will distort the balance anew with some impervious policy scheme.
Posted by: mark | October 31st, 2008 at 6:39 pm | Report this commentA Czech presidency will not have the slightest clue what it is doing, unless a manic and frenzied outburst by the EU about the evils of communism suddenly becomes necessary and relevant upon the world stage.
Geographic location and an obsolete argument about governments supporting banking systems being related somehow to communist repression does not in the least outweigh the fact that the Czech Republic, particularly the ODS and Klaus, have consistently been a confused, irrelevant (just look at their 3 main principles - business competitiveness, (bored?) the four freedoms (of people, goods, services and capital) (bored yet?) and a liberal trade policy etc…. WHAT? Yes, truly hot topics in my A-level politics class in 1994 or whenever it was, but its 2008), and has acted as an unnecessarily argumentative entity within the EU, wasting time over relative trivialities since being welcomed into the EU family, which, by the way, was first thought of in the tangible form it has become by politicians from the Benelux, France and Germany, not to mention Churchill.
In principle enlargement and a rotating presidency is correct, but cheap shots against the French (regarding Napoleon for example) are unfounded. Now I dislike France as much as the next man, however Czechs, generally speaking, identify France as a kind of communist state where people pretend they can’t speak English. The problem is that their understanding of French politics as well as Franco virtues and flaws do not extend much beyond this stereotype. How could it? They’ve spent most of their time under communism, which, by the way, has led to the widespread belief that western Europe betrayed Czechia by trying to negotiate with Hitler over the Sudenland and allowed communism to gain a foothold there.
Now, it is actually easy to generalize about ‘Czechs’ in this way, because the majority of Czech people follow the opinions of their president - a man who believes there is no such thing as global warming and prides himself on being an ardent Thatcherite - need I say more - it is easy to generalize because this nation’s generations were taught to think and behave in this unified way by a totalitarian regime.
Confusion is what occurs in the mind of Czech politicians when they are in Brussels. To think of the new enlargement countries in terms of ‘us’ and ‘them’ or as inferior is not constructive, but Czech society, as well as Polish and Hungarian societies, represent - nay, actually parade throughout their capital cities, that which is wrong with the capitalist system at an acute level, in that there is little behind the symbolic posturing (Klaus’ flag farce), and attention-seeking as being true ‘Europeans’, whatever that is anyway, because of being in the middle of Europe. It is remarkable, incidentally, how the prejudice displayed towards the east and lack of cooperation among those parts of Europe to the extent of those countries hardly existing within their collective minds is soon negated by the ‘we are in the middle of Europe argument.
Underlying the posturing however is a fundamental weakness, which France and Sarkozy in particular, say what you will, does not suffer from in its handling of the economic crisis affecting Europe and international relations with Russia, for example. This not about national pride. Its about competence.
Posted by: George | October 31st, 2008 at 8:27 pm | Report this commentSorry Mark, I just read your post - Cz calm and serenity being preferable to ‘Napoleonic cacophony’ and ‘hyperactivity’ - are you suggesting a unique form of Czech Buddhism as a panacea to the issues will face of the coming months? I know an old hippy who could act as minister for economy.
Posted by: George | October 31st, 2008 at 8:40 pm | Report this commentWho needs a minister for the economy? The baker around the corner here doesn’t need a bureaucrat telling him to bake breads. The Czechs know this, because they actually experienced the Soviet experiment. The French however, think that dirigisme is as natural as Chardonnay and Camembert.
Posted by: mark | October 31st, 2008 at 11:00 pm | Report this commentEveryone should calm down. The job of the Presidency is to preside impartially over the activities of the European Union, the more important of which are founded in the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) as these activities are legislative i.e. they are supra-national in character unlike the area of the common foreign and security policy which is entirely inter-governmental i.e. Member States can make it up as they go along.
Sarkozy is a specialist in the second of the two categories. He is also, however, trying to muscle in on an element of the first viz. the role of the ECB (as defined by the changes to the TEC introduced by the Maastricht Treaty). He will have as much success as his predecessors in the Elysee, that is to say; none.
If he wants to chair the Eurogroup, which is an informal gathering of the Finance Ministers of the countries that have adopted the euro, he has to sort the matter out with the current elected chairman, Jean-Claude Juncker. It has nothing to do with the Czech Presidency.
On his other stunt, the Union for the Mediterranean, or whatever it is called, the situation is more complicated as discussions may cover areas which involve all 27 Member States (including the cost of paying for it). But as any such matters must come back to a Council of Ministers presided over the the current (Czech) Presidency for decision, some suitable arrangement can also be found.
Sarkozy is confirming the fears of the smaller Member States with regard to the creation of a ‘directoire’ of the larger Member States. All the Lisbon Treaty provides for, however, is that the European Council - which is precluded from adopting legislative instruments - be presided over by an elected president and that the Foreign Affairs Council (the non-legislative grouping of foreign ministers) be presided over by the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (or Inspector Gadget, as I believe he is affectionately known).
The key words are ‘president’ and ‘impartiality’. The views of the political masters of the Czech delegation to the Council of Ministers (which is quite separate from that of the Presidency) are irrelevant.
This is the same test as that facing any presidency. I do not doubt, for an instant, that the Czechs will pass it, as in the case of Slovenia, with flying colours. The institutional set-up is such that any attempt to high-jack it is doomed to failure. Ministers will simply not heed a biased chairman.
I continue to despair of the inability of so-called Brussels correspondents to grasp even vaguely the institutional functioning of the European Union.
Posted by: J.L. | November 1st, 2008 at 9:47 pm | Report this commentThe financial crisis is spreading to all the sectors and the ultimate results will be available by the end of 2009. Anyway the crisis is very crusial to all western markets since its a prestigeous counter movement from these governments and it should show some good results by the mid of next year atleast. But in terms of asian countries, it is a good opportunity to find alternative solutions and reconfirm their best practices followed over the past years. Some of the basic causes of financial crisis is, bad credit loans processed by the financial institutions to the customers and third parties. But in case of growing markets, most of the banks are assuring the creditworthiness of their clients twice since most of the clients are not high profile clients. Hence this didn’t make much impact on their financial systems and processed loan payment shedules.
Posted by: koolbulb | November 2nd, 2008 at 7:52 am | Report this commentfor MORE DETAILS
I wonder what a tiny backward nation as the Czech Republic which hates the European Union (why did they join?) can offer: NOTHING.
Posted by: Enrique | November 3rd, 2008 at 8:21 am | Report this commentThe “tiny backward country” called Czech Republic has the same population of Holland and a bigger population of anyone else in the EU,with exception of Germany,France,GB,Italy,Spain,Poland,Roumania.Wich means 19 nations on 27.If we count the number of those who dislike this “Europe”,we must add who voted NO in the French and Dutch referendum,70%of the British population,the Irish,and so on….Well.i am afraid that the Czechs are the Real Europe.
Posted by: stefano de santis | November 3rd, 2008 at 4:09 pm | Report this commentStefano,
There is NO OBLIGATION to join the European Union…that is something you should learn.
You can have just a Free Trade Agreement like Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Turkey….
There are diffeerent levels of integration: Switzerland less than Turkey, Turkey less than Norway (EEA), Norway less than the EU
There is NO OBLIGATION to join the European Union. That is something your head doesn´t understand.
Posted by: Enrique | November 3rd, 2008 at 10:30 pm | Report this commentEnrique,it’s no true at all that you can quit this Europe when you want.In Italy the majority of the people hates the Euro,but no one is talking about a referendum whose effect would be worse than the French one .The reason is clear:if we get out of Europe,the entire Club Mediterranè will follow within one year,the Eastern Europe will refuse to join the Euro,this currency will belong to France,Germany,Benelux only:not enough to grant the Critical Mass.This will be the end of Europe.So nobody will organize this referendum,in Italy.Europe lives with tricks like this,and is substantially a illegal union.
Posted by: STEFANO DE SANTIS | November 4th, 2008 at 10:39 am | Report this commentStefano,
Then you are telling me that Italy is not a Democracy and you don´t have representatives.
If you have MPs tell them to do whatever you want as they represent you.
But I see you only dream about the USD, your only God: Obama and the U.S. Dollar.
Posted by: Enrique | November 4th, 2008 at 3:20 pm | Report this commentYou want a Dollar Monopoly but…sorry, that has ended thanks to the Euro.
You also wants to keep the NATO Dictatorship under the Generalissimo Bantz J. Craddock SACEUR of NATO-Europe but we will be Free from you.
Posted by: Enrique | November 4th, 2008 at 3:25 pm | Report this commentI am telling that the entire United Europe,as it works today,is not a democracy and that the so called “Franco German link” is a fascist entity who feeds dreams of domination over Italy,Spain,Ireland,the Czech Republic and all the other countries of Europe:that Norway,Britain,Denmark are keeping distance from this program of “unity”.That their currency are not linked to the $.If you do not like NATO,it’s you that must quit the Alliance.It’s too clear that Spain,under the Zapatero government,is not an enthusiastic member.Somebody else will fight terrorism at your place,and die,if you continue with your behaviour.Zapatero will respond of this to History,as Sarkozy will.And please do not mention the 10 French soldiers who died in Afghnistan in August:as LE MONE wrote,they died of poor organiation,more than of Taliban fury.
Posted by: stefano de santis | November 4th, 2008 at 3:59 pm | Report this commentStefano,
But I agree with you that the possibility of ITALY, with a Public Debt which reaches 109% (compared to 36% in Spain) of GDP and unstable Governments, LEAVING THE EURO is very real.
We all agree that Italy is on the verge of leaving the Euro.
Spain, on the opposite, is much more structured nation, which had budget surpluses during the last years and a GDP growth twice the Italian.
Italy will leave….SPAIN WILL STAY IN THE EURO.
Posted by: Enrique | November 4th, 2008 at 4:01 pm | Report this commentI forgot: The Netherlands have 60% more population than the Czech Republic.
We will overthrow the NATO Dictatorship and we will get rid of the Dictator, the American Generalissimo Bantz J. Craddock. We will be Free. Remember that.
Posted by: Enrique | November 4th, 2008 at 4:08 pm | Report this commentTo be part of the Eurozone a nation must be disciplined and Italy is not as disciplined as Spain.
Posted by: Enrique | November 4th, 2008 at 9:57 pm | Report this commentSpain is a very structured nation with families debt of 114% of their year revenue,and a trade balance that would be ridicolous if it wasn’t a tragedy.If somebofy needs to leave the Euro it’s you.And do not mention the Zapatero lies:the IMF and WORLD BANK informs that,black economy included,our economy is twice yours.When things got well,in Spain,year sales of cars was 1,2 millions(now are down 40%) compared with 2,6 millions in Italy,same medium price,one million imported from Germany and France.This is the reason why they want us in the Euro,and do not need you.Spain disciplined?Your deficit/pil rate crossed right now the 3,0 rate,violating the Pact of Stability in company of your French friends:ours is 2,5.If you want a Francogerman boss at the place of America,you are free of choosing them.The American cemeteries we have in Italy teaches us that the United States freed Europe from German domination and NATO protected us from the URSS.The German cemeteries we have hosts SS.Choose them,you will have their sons as bosses.
Posted by: STEFANO DE SANTIS | November 5th, 2008 at 10:47 am | Report this commentStefano,
From your words it looks as you are a former Communist as in Italy the U.S. ally was the Communisty Party (apart from the Mafia, as everybody knows) Italy was part of the Axis as everybody knows.
In fact, in the Battle of Stalingrad there was an Italian Commander called Italo Gariboldi and there were hundreds of Italians (and Spaniards) in the Waffen SS.
In the Waffen SS there were two Spanish companies: Spanische Freiwilligen Kompanie der SS 101 and 102, which were a rest from the Blue Division (Division 250th of the Wermacht) sent by Franco to Leningrad. That´s History.
Posted by: Enrique | November 5th, 2008 at 3:06 pm | Report this commentA correction: there were thousands of Italians and hundreds of Spaniards in the Waffen SS.
In fact, there was a full Italian Division in the Waffen SS: 29th Waffen Divisionen der SS (Italianische Nr.1)
Posted by: Enrique | November 5th, 2008 at 3:18 pm | Report this commentSo what? There was and is a Nazi party in England and USA.Are they Nazi countries?You tell me that Czekia have a population 40%less than Holland,but i calculated Czekia and Slovakia together:they have an open frontier in Breclav since 1/1/93,two years half before the Schengen treaty,speaks the same languages with very little differences,share the same distrust on “Europe”,share 69 years of History on 90:in fact,they are much closer than Wallons and Flamands in Belgium.Above all,they both know what means to obey to arrogant strangers,and this is the reason of their behaviour.You want them out of Europe?In change of what?If you think that they are wrong,you do not know the Gaullists.You will when it will be too late.
Posted by: stefano de santis | November 5th, 2008 at 3:41 pm | Report this commentSlovakia will join the Eurozone next January 1st. 2008
And Mussolini in Italy didn´t led a minority party but was widely supported by Business and the Catholic Church…the ones against him were the Communists and the Mafia.
Posted by: Enrique | November 5th, 2008 at 4:17 pm | Report this commentI mean January 1st 2009
Posted by: Enrique | November 5th, 2008 at 4:17 pm | Report this commentFrench and Germans sold out Georgia to Russia. They just went back to “business as usual” with Moscow to keep their homes with gas and heat while Russia still occupies two regions of Georgia with 100 of thousand of refugees.
Posted by: antonio rodrigez | November 5th, 2008 at 10:44 pm | Report this commentWho are the French chauvinists to tutor Czechs? Populist Sarkozy will ruin France and EU with its communist ideology and policies.
I fully trust Czechs and agree with Stefano de Santis on this board.
Enough already with French superiority syndrome. Busta!