PM Sobotka vows active Czech role in Brexit negotiations

Czech politicians have been reacting to the formal move made by the United Kingdom on Wednesday to invoke Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon and thus leave the European Union within two years. Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka has pledged to take an active role in the Brexit talks so as to safeguard Czech jobs and the rights of Czech expats in Britain.

Bohuslav Sobotka, photo: Khalil Baalbaki

The move on Wednesday by UK Prime Minister Theresa May to trigger Brexit met with a variety of responses from Czech political leaders.

Speaking at a regular press conference, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka stated that the Czech Republic was now formulating its position on Brexit ahead of a planned European Council meeting at the end of April, which will address guidelines for formal negotiations on the UK’s departure from the EU. The PM also addressed specific Czech interests:

“Our priorities will certainly include defending the rights of our citizens who live and work in Britain today, and who have gained certain rights due to the fact that they are members of an EU state. We do not want such Czechs to lose these rights in the future.”

Sobotka also highlighted future trade relations with the UK as another top Czech priority:

“We would like for future relations between Britain and Europe to exist in such a way as to not threaten our exports to the UK, and for Czech jobs not to be threatened. So that is the spirit in which we intend to negotiate, and the Czech Republic certainly plans to take a very active role in the negotiations.”

Meanwhile, President Miloš Zeman reiterated his initial opposition to Brexit:

“You know that I considered Brexit as an unwelcome event for both sides – meaning for the United Kingdom and also for the European Union.”

Petr Fiala, leader of the opposition Civic Democrats, stressed the importance of maintaining future military ties to the UK:

Photo: CTK

“I think that it is crucial for all of Europe to preserve cooperation in defence matters. We must not forget that although the UK is leaving the European Union, it is not leaving Europe.”

Speaking to Czech Television, foreign minister Lubomír Zaorálek, rejected the sentiments expressed in some European quarters to make the UK pay a hard price for leaving the bloc:

“I absolutely disagree with those statements suggesting ‘now we will make life tough for Britain’. Because we need the best economic, political, strategic and defence relationship with the UK. Besides, the EU should not be held together on the basis of threats about what happens if you leave, but rather by the positives, and the things that make membership of the EU feel like a definite plus.”