EU foreign affairs chief praises Czechs for focus on EU unity

EU foreign affairs chief, Federica Mogherini, visited Prague on Monday for talks on some of the challenges facing the alliance in the present day, including migration, security and the fight against terrorism. The operative word at her meetings with the country’s top officials was “unity”.

Federica Mogherini, Lubomír Zaorálek, photo: CTK

Tensions between Prague and Brussels over refugee quotas appeared to be long- forgotten as EU Foreign Affairs Chief Federica Mogherini and Czech Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek smiled and posed for the cameras. Skepticism regarding refugee quotas has spread as the migrant crisis develops and with more cracks appearing on the façade of EU unity, new priorities have developed – preserving the alliance as such and boosting its action-capability. At a joint press briefing with Minister Zaorálek, Ms. Mogherini had high praise for the country’s leadership.

“We know that we can always count on a constructive, responsible, balanced and engaged Czech Republic position and contribution to our European work. The position you (Foreign Minister Zaorálek) express in the Foreign Affairs Council as well as the prime minister in the European Council, as well as other colleagues, is always one that identifies the unity of the European Union as the key to solving the major problems we are facing today.”

The two sides stressed the need for EU member states to act together in securing the alliance’s outer borders and put more pressure on Turkey for it to fulfill its agreements with the EU on regulating the flow of migrants to Europe. In a public debate they agreed that the EU must strengthen its ability to defend its security in a coordinated manner, speed up the creation of a joint border and coast guard and establish functioning hotspots which would regulate the inflow of migrants so that the EU can guarantee law and order and protect its citizens.

Photo: European Commission

With individual member states now battling to resolve their own problems stemming from the migrant crisis and tensions running high in the wake of the New Year’s Eve attacks in Germany finding a common language within the 28 member alliance and increasing its action-capability –ever a weak spot – will not be easy. The Czech foreign minister said his country would do its utmost to help build trust.

“One of the Czech Foreign Ministry’s main priorities at present is building trust. We are currently presiding over the Višegrad Four group [the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland] and we feel it is essential to build trust not only in Central Europe but among all 28 member states. We will do everything to boost understanding between the V4 and the EU, because only so can we successfully tackle the challenges ahead.”

Czech commentators note that with the hard line which the other Višegrad goup states have gradually adopted to the migrant issue mediation from Prague may be welcome, but many argue that with frustration and public fear of migrants growing, achieving unity on the issue in Europe will not be easy.