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64 SECURITY AND DEFENSE POLICY Czech NATO Policy Activity Determination Impact Normative aspect Final mark C C C D C The ruling coalition has yet to find an effective mechanism for negotiating ndamental issues related to Czech NATO policy in a manner that eliminates counterproductive and at times populist statements or subsequent media exchanges. It has therefore not been able to forge practical Czech contributions into a proactive position within the framework of discussion on the ongoing adaptation of NATO to the changing securi environment of Eastern and Southern Europe. Like the year before, Czech policy in NATO was characterized by a contrast between practical steps in the form of valuable contributions to alliance activities and verbal statements by senior politicians, made without consultation at governmental level. The warm welcome of a convoy of American soldiers travelling through the Czech Republic in late March and early April was a symbolic demonstration of support for transatlantic ties. At the request of NATO partners, Czech Gripen fighters embarked on their fourth foreign mission in July and August, where after one year they were again engaged in helping to defend Iceland air space. This was a visible contribution to the alliance. In response to the evolving concept of NATO’s rapid response force, the Czech Republic doubled its originally planned contribution for 2016. Changes to the foreign mission mandate were approved in Parliament at the last minute in mid-December, only thanks to the votes of the right-wing opposition. A critical appeal to NATO to protect the southern border of the Schengen Area with regard to the migration crisis was voiced by Depu Prime Minister Andrej Babiš in August. Unexpectedly, this proposal also became a point of discussion during the Prague visit of the NATO Secretary General. The call to send NATO ships to sink emp vessels used by human traffickers and help secure Turkish borders was doubly off target – NATO did eventually get involved, but in a completely different way. The possible role of NATO in the migration crisis
SECURITY AND DEFENSE POLICY 65 was subsequently clarified by the coalition through mutual verbal salvos fired through the media. October’s Bucharest summit of NATO’s east wing countries organized by the Romanian and Polish Presidents showed that the Czech Republic still does not feel threatened from the East, but at the same time will not object to an increase of NATO’s presence in the region. Sending the Chair of the Chamber of Deputies to a meeting of eight presidents gave a clear signal to regional partners of the low importance of this matter from the perspective of Czech politicians. The government weakened the existing image of the Czech Republic as a new member traditionally and enthusiastically supporting the NATO policy of enlargement. This was most evident in July’s state visit by the Georgian Minister of Defense. Her Czech counterpart Stropnický neglected to mention the position of the Czech Republic regarding the Membership Action Plan, for which Georgia has been waiting in vain since 2008. However, what he untactlly did not omit to mention was the need to take the opinion of Russia into account regarding the potential accession of Georgia to NATO. Foreign Exercise by the Czech Army in Response to the Refugee Crisis Activity B Determination B– Impact B Normative aspect D Final mark B– With regard to the migration crisis and the unpredictabili of the situation it is understandable why Parliament made no objection to being bypassed by the Ministry of Defense. In the ture however, the deployment of Czech Army troops on missions whose practical content corresponds to foreign military exercises and that can be approved by the government alone, should be subject to thorough parliamentary control so that this exception does not become standard procedure. In 2015, there was a gradual increase in pressure on countries along the Balkan Route, along which a great many regees made their way to Europe. The Czech Republic therefore decided to provide police and soldiers to Hungary
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FINAL GRADE FOR THE CZECH FOREIGN P
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The publication was supported by th
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AGENDA FOR CZECH FOREIGN POLICY 201
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List of Abbreviations ANO AV ČR CE
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10 AUDIT OF RECOMMENDATIONS IN 2015
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12 AUDIT OF RECOMMENDATIONS IN 2015
Page 14 and 15: 14 AUDIT OF RECOMMENDATIONS IN 2015
Page 16 and 17: 16 AUDIT OF RECOMMENDATIONS IN 2015
Page 18 and 19: 18 FUTILE SEARCH FOR A STRATEGIC DI
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Page 26 and 27: 26 GRADING METHODOLOGY We utilized
Page 28 and 29: 28 GRADING METHODOLOGY assessment f
Page 30 and 31: 30 EUROPEAN POLICY Strategic Dimens
Page 32 and 33: 32 EUROPEAN POLICY and NATO, but al
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Page 36 and 37: 36 VISEGRAD COOPERATION Visegrad Co
Page 38 and 39: 38 VISEGRAD COOPERATION initiative,
Page 40 and 41: 40 KEY BILATERAL RELATIONS Germany
Page 42 and 43: 42 KEY BILATERAL RELATIONS Although
Page 44 and 45: 44 KEY BILATERAL RELATIONS by most
Page 46 and 47: 46 EASTERN EUROPE AND THE BALKANS R
Page 48 and 49: 48 EASTERN EUROPE AND THE BALKANS i
Page 50 and 51: 50 EASTERN EUROPE AND THE BALKANS W
Page 52 and 53: 52 MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA War
Page 54 and 55: 54 MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA The
Page 56 and 57: 56 ASIA China Activity Determinatio
Page 58 and 59: 58 ASIA Last year’s visit by the
Page 60 and 61: 60 HUMAN RIGHTS AND TRANSFORMATION
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Page 66 and 67: 66 SECURITY AND DEFENSE POLICY and
Page 68 and 69: 68 ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY Economic Dipl
Page 70 and 71: 70 ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY focus on bett
Page 72 and 73: 72 DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AND HUMA
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Page 76 and 77: 76 CLIMATE POLICY Climate Policy Ac
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Page 80 and 81: 80 SUMMARY OF RATINGS Note that the
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Page 84 and 85: 84 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2016 1. The
Page 86 and 87: 86 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2016 approac
Page 88: 88 ABOUT PUBLISHER ASSOCIATION FOR
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