British PM David Cameron sounds out Czechs on EU reform package

British Prime Minister David Cameron flies into Prague on Friday with the main target to firm up his hopes of sealing a deal on European Union reforms which can be put to British voters in a referendum on whether to stay in or out of the 28-country political and economic bloc.

David Cameron, photo: CTK

The Conservative leader will meet with Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka flanked by Secretary of State for European Affairs, Tomáš Prouza, and Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Michaela Marksová.

Marksová’s presence is an indication of the biggest sticking point for Central European countries, including the Czech Republic, with Cameron’s reform drive so far. That is the demand that some social and other payments are banned for citizens of other EU countries until they have worked for four years in the UK.

The British prime minister says the UK social and benefits is a big draw for foreigners and the net influx of 300,000 to the country every year is putting too much stress on its welfare and benefits system. Czech and other politicians say the proposal flies in the face of the EU’s basic freedom of movement principle and is nothing more than discrimination.

There have been hints, not just out of Germany and France but also Poland, that some concessions to Cameron might be made on freedom of movement though he might not get all he is demanding. Downing Street is playing its cards close to its chest.

Photo: European Commission

While often an awkward member of any EU team, British membership is seen as useful for other countries because of the net contributions made to the overall EU budget, the key role it plays in defence and foreign policy matters, and, particularly by smaller countries, as a possible brake on being steamrollered by the French and Germans.

On the rest of the British Prime Minister’s wish list, stepped up European competitiveness, more national sovereignty and a greater role for national parliaments in the EU, and a fair deal within the EU for those using the single currency euro and those outside the Eurozone, there is everything from caution to outright support in Prague.

The Czech Republic lines up particularly enthusiastically behind Britain’s push for a wider and more effective EU internal market and the push for more market-opening trade deals between the EU and the rest of the world.

Cameron is currently setting his target on a EU reform deal by the end of February at the latest which could set the stage for a British referendum on continued EU membership in June or September this year. More delay might see his negotiations being swamped by a new immigration crisis and in 2017 by elections in France and Germany.

L-159, photo: Czech Army

Discussions with Bohuslav Sobotka will also cover security, both as regards the ongoing immigration crisis, Syria, and the threat of terrorist attacks. Bilateral trade relations will also be broached. While Britain boasts of being the second biggest economy in the EU, outstripping France, the volume of two-way trade with the Czech Republic is still relatively small compared with Germany or other EU countries.

There’s also a more specific trade issue with Czech Radio reporting that the Czech side are seeking the lifting of a British veto on the export of Czech made L-159 aircraft to Iraq. The planes use British radar technology which the UK fears might fall into the wrong hands.