EU Council Monitor - 16/01/09

Wednesday's session: Czech Presidency
"The economy and energy security are two priorities of the incoming Czech Presidency of the Union according to Czech PM Mirek Topolánek who addressed the House Wednesday. Later MEPs debated the crisis in Gaza and the Russia-Ukraine gas stand-off.

Czech PM outlines 6-month programme
Mirek Topolánek began his six-month term of office by thanking the former French Presidency for its work: "it is not easy to take over the Presidency of the Council of the EU after France. I see only one way to rise to the occasion, with honour."" [Europa]

Ministers of Finance to Hold the First Meeting of the Ecofin Council in 2009
"On 20 January 2009 Brussels will hold its first meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Ecofin) under the auspices of the Czech Presidency.

On the eve of the meeting a regular gathering of ministers of the Eurogroup will take place. Czech Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek will open the meeting and present the Ecofin Council programme during the Czech Presidency. This part of the meeting is open to the public and a recording (and live broadcast) will be available at the Council website." [EU2009]

Czechs want VAT compromise by March
"EU finance ministers will on Tuesday (20 January) discuss how a compromise could be achieved by March on a proposal to reduce value-added tax (VAT) rates on labour intensive services. The Czech presidency of the EU will present a timeline to ministers for discussion following an agreement by EU leaders in December that they should “settle this issue by March 2009”.

Miroslav Kalousek, the Czech finance minister, said that an agreement could be reached on the issue, which has been discussed by member states for three years. “I believe we will be able to reach a compromise. I imagine it will be applied to a narrow range of goods and services,” Kalousek said in Prague on Thursday (8 January).
“We will try and put forward a compromise and not undermine each other with unfair competition.”" [EuropeanVoice]

Czechs seek agreement on alternative institutional plans
"The Czech presidency of the EU wants member states to reach agreement by the end of June on alternative plans for institutions, including the European Commission, that would be affected by the adoption or rejection of the Lisbon treaty by the Irish people.

Alexandr Vondra, the Czech deputy prime minister, told journalists in Prague last week that the Czech presidency would try to finalise alternative plans. “We have to be ready for both scenarios, that the Lisbon treaty is in force by the end of the year, or we have to act and co-operate in the EU under the Nice treaty,” he said. Vondra said that a special meeting of ministers responsible for EU affairs held in Prague on 8 January had discussed the future size of the Commission and the arrangements for nominating the next president of the Commission, both issues affected by the fate of the Lisbon treaty." [EuropeanVoice]