Commission Report (2002): Czech Republic

• Progress since the last Regular Report
• Overall assessment
• Conclusion

Chapter 27: Common foreign and security policy

Progress since the last Regular Report

Since the previous Regular Report, the Czech Republic has continued to position its foreign and security policy in line with that of the European Union.

The regular political dialogue established by the Association Agreement with the Czech Republic is proceeding smoothly and the Czech Republic has played a constructive role within the framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), including meetings at the level of Political Directors, European Correspondents and Working Groups.

The Czech Republic has shown a keen interest in continuing its active participation in political dialogue with the EU, including on ESDP developments. It has actively taken part in exchanges in this context with the EU, including (for ESDP) in EU+15 format (i.e. with non-EU European NATO members and candidates for accession to the EU) and in EU+6 format (i.e. non-EU European NATO members).

As regards alignment with EU statements and declarations, the Czech Republic has regularly aligned its positions with those of the Union and, when invited to do so, has associated itself with the Union`s common positions and joint actions. Since November 2001, the Czech Republic has associated itself with an EU joint action concerning the EU contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons. It has also associated itself with eight EU common positions, including three on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

The Czech Republic has continued to comply with international sanctions and restrictive measures imposed by the UN and the EU. Progress has been achieved regarding the control of arms exports. The government has shown increased awareness of the need to move towards ensuring the fullest possible consistency with the EU Code of conduct on arm exports.

During the reporting period, the Czech Republic played an active role in the Capabilities Improvement Conference in November 2001, designating 1 000 troops to take part in EU Rapid Intervention Force missions as of January 2003. The Czech Republic also offered 100 policemen to participate in the EU police force. In May 2002, the Czech Republic gained full membership of the Western European Armament Organisation (WEAO), thus taking a further step towards integration with the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).

Relations with Slovakia remained good and were reinforced by the decision to set-up a joint Czech-Slovak KFOR unit, which started its mission in Kosovo in March 2002. In the same month, the Czech Parliament approved participation in a joint Czech-Slovak-Polish Brigade.

Overall the Czech Republic has had constructive relations with its neighbours and within the Visegrad group, although they were overshadowed by political tensions relating to the Czechoslovak Presidential Decrees of 1945 and related issues. In particular since the Czech general election and the dramatic flooding in central Europe during August, when there was good regional co-operation to provide mutual assistance, determined efforts have been made to overcome these differences.

As regards regional co-operation, in November 2001 the Czech Republic became a member of the Stability Pact for South-East Europe, of which it had been previously an observer.

In the field of defence co-operation, the Czech Republic has made considerable efforts to support international peacekeeping missions. It has continued to participate in UN (Kuwait) and OSCE peacekeeping and observer operations as well as in KFOR. It joined ISAF this year and ended its participation in SFOR in September 2001.

The Czech Republic has signed the Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court. It has passed new anti-terrorism legislation, including measures against the financing of terrorism (see Chapter 24 -- co-operation in the field of Justice and Home Affairs). It has aligned itself with the EU Plan of Action of September 2001 and with the four Common Positions on combating terrorism.

As regards administrative capacity, a new department for CFSP matters, under the control of the Political Director, was set up in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in May 2002. An electronic database on CFSP matters is being developed.

Overall assessment

The Czech Republic has continued to participate actively in the Visegrad group; it is furthermore taking part in activities of the Central European Initiative.

Political dialogue with the EU has remained overall constructive and consistent. The Czech Republic has substantially aligned its arms export sector with the EU Code of Conduct. It has engaged constructively in multilateral fora.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has an administrative set-up compatible with the CFSP structures of the EU. It was reorganised in spring 2000 and now includes the posts of Political Director and European Correspondent. The Ministry is connected to the Associated Correspondents` Network information system through which the EU communicates within the CFSP with the associated partners.

Conclusion

In its 1997 Opinion, the Commission expressed the view that the Czech Republic would be in a position to effectively fulfil its obligations in the field of the Common Foreign and Security Policy.

Since the 1997 Opinion, the Czech Republic has demonstrated a satisfactory capacity to implement the CFSP acquis as well as to align its foreign policy with the CFSP of the Union. The Czech Republic has taken full part in the political dialogue established by the Association Agreement, and has overall maintained a high level of alignment of its foreign and security policy with the CFSP. The necessary administrative structures are now largely in place.

Negotiations on this chapter have been provisionally closed. The Czech Republic has not requested any transitional arrangements. The Czech Republic is generally meeting the commitments it made in the accession negotiations in this field.

In order to complete preparations for membership, the Czech Republic`s efforts now need to focus on ensuring that its foreign policy orientation remains in line with the Union`s developing foreign and security policy, adopting the legislation on economic sanctions and finalising the development of the necessary administrative structures. In particular, the Czech Republic should ensure that its national policies and practice conform to the EU`s common positions, should defend these positions in international fora and should ensure that all sanctions and restrictive measures can be duly implemented.

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