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“Neither yes or no. The Czech Republic stands alone in the union,” announces Hospodářské Noviny in the wake of yesterday’s adoption of the fiscal compact by the European Council. Prague and London were the only two governments to refuse to sign the budgetary discipline pact adopted by 25 other EU member states. “The treaty offers no political benefits and does not enable all EU countries to participate in European summits on an equal footing,” insisted Prime Minister Petr Nečas, who also had to take into account Czech President Václav Klaus’ opposition to any additional European integration.
The Prague daily does not believe that the Brussels summit has prompted a division in Europe, but instead argues that the event has highlighted “different points of view on integration that will allow everyone to take up a position of their choosing.” As it stands -
... the Czech Republic will not be seated at the round table, or in the anteroom (...). It prefers to “listen” through the walls of a minuscule room, from which it will be difficult to influence the course of events in Europe.
