Working group to define Czech priorities for Brexit talks

As congratulations to the new British prime minister pour in from around Europe, European leaders have started preparing for Brexit. In Prague the state secretary for EU affairs, Tomáš Prouza, on Thursday chaired the first session of a working group set up to define the Czech Republic’s priorities in the upcoming negotiations on Britain’s departure from the union.

Theresa May, photo: CTK

Although Britain has yet to formally announce its decision to leave the EU, the appointment of Theresa May British prime minister is viewed as a sign that the period of uncertainty following the Brexit vote is over and Europe has a partner for negotiations in Britain. Ahead of those negotiations, EU member states are scrambling to define their priorities in the talks and considering steps which would mitigate the damage caused by Brexit.

In Prague, a working group for Brexit has been set up not only to define the country’s priorities in the upcoming negotiations between Britain and the EU, but also to address the pressing issue of EU reform. It is made up of government ministers and business leaders. The head of the working group, State Secretary for EU Affairs Tomáš Prouza says one of the top priorities which the Czech Republic will fight for is for the free movement of people, money, goods and services to be fully maintained.

“For us this is a key issue - the free movement of people, money goods and services -must be indelible. Either they are all valid or they are not. What we have been hearing from Britain –and even from Prime Minister May- that Britain will secure access for British firms and financial institutions to the European market but that it will close its own labour market to citizens from the EU is simply not acceptable. Some of the things that Britons were promised in the referendum, and are being promised now, are unrealistic.“

In addition to defining the country’s priorities in the new relationship that will need to be established between the EU and Britain, the working group for Brexit is considering ways of capitalizing on the change. According to Tomáš Prouza one of the tasks is for the country to try and attract some of the companies which may want to leave Britain in the wake of Brexit to the Czech Republic as well as vying to host the headquarters of some of the EU agencies now located in London.

Tomáš Prouza, photo: CTK

Despite the gloom that followed the Brexit announcement, Czech officials are hoping that, at the end of the day, business and cultural ties between the two countries will be preserved. However State Secretary Prouza adds that even under the best circumstances the Czechs will miss Britain in the EU.

“I do not think the British market will close to Czech firms. The Brits are business people like we are and they will support business. What we will lose with Brexit is Britain’s political support in the EU. The country was often a close ally on issues such as nuclear energy or reducing bureaucracy and without them we will have to make a much bigger effort to defend these issues.”