30 June 2022

The five top priorities of the Czech Presidency of the EU

Czech Republic is taking over the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU as of 1 July, in the midst of a turbulent geopolitical situation and with an ongoing energy and financial crisis.  
Under the motto “Rethink, rebuild, repower”, the Presidency will lead the Council’s work for the next six months around five interconnected priority areas:

1. War in Ukraine

The Czech Presidency’s number one priority will be to safeguard Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as managing the refugee crisis and mobilising funds to support Ukraine in the post-war recovery process. The Presidency will be actively involved in the preparation of additional sanctions against Russia, as well as supporting Ukraine on its path after being granted the EU candidate status.

2. Energy security

The Presidency will prioritise energy security with a view to ending EU dependence on Russian fossil fuels. To do that, Czech Republic will push for an accelerated implementation of REPowerEU, which includes a diversification of energy sources via logistics, energy savings and a speedy transition to low-carbon and renewable energy. Czech Republic will also be in the lead of the negotiations with the European Parliament on the Fitfor55 package, which includes crucial pieces of legislation such as the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), the revision of the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) and the establishment of a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

3. Defence and cybersecurity

Given the rising global instability, the Czech Presidency will prioritise strengthening security and defence capabilities, in collaboration with NATO. The Presidency will focus on the implementation of initiatives stemming from the EU Strategic Compass, such as the development of the Hybrid toolbox to respond to security threats, the fight against disinformation and the security of cyberspace.

4. Economic resilience

The resilience of the EU’s economy will also feature prominently on the agenda. The COVID-19 pandemic and Russian aggression in Ukraine have caused inflation shock, raised market uncertainty and highlighted the vulnerability of global supply chains. The Czech Presidency will seek to boost the EU’s competitiveness in strategic sectors and strengthen critical supply chains, such as in food, semiconductors and medicines.

5. Democratic values

The Czech Presidency will focus on enhancing the resilience of institutions that have a significant influence on maintaining and developing values of democracy and the rule of law in the EU. These include, for example, transparent financing of political parties, the independence of mass media and an open dialogue with citizens.

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