Czechia Overview

• Location: Central Europe, landlocked between Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Poland.
• Population: Over 10 million.
• Official Names:
  • Czechia (short geographical name adopted in 2016).
  • Czech Republic (formal political name).
• Capital: Prague, known as "the City of a Hundred Spires".
  • Voted as the most beautiful city in the world by Time Out magazine in 2021.

Historical Background

• Czechoslovakia Formation: 1918, after WWI, combining regions of Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, Slovakia, and Subcarpathian Rus.
• Munich Agreement: 1938 - Czechoslovakia lost the Sudetenland to Nazi Germany without consent.
• WWII Impact: Full occupation by Germany in March 1939, leading to loss of independence.
• Communist Takeover: 1948, shifted to a communist regime similar to the Soviet Union, with significant changes to governance and private property.
• Prague Spring: 1968, movement for reform, ended by Soviet invasion.
• Velvet Revolution: 1989, peaceful transition to democracy and capitalism.
• Split from Slovakia: January 1, 1993, peaceful division due to nationalist sentiments.

EU Membership

• Milestones:
  • Joined NATO in 1999.
  • Joined the EU in 2004.
  • Entered the Schengen Area in December 2007.
• Currency: Uses Czech Crown instead of Euro; discussions about adopting Euro ongoing.

Economic Overview

• GDP: 276 billion Euros (2022).
• GDP per Capita: 26,000 Euros, ranking 17th in Europe.
  • EU average is 35,000 Euros.
• Trade: 80% of exports are intra-EU, with major partners being Germany (30%), Slovakia (8%), and Poland (6%).
  • Imports: 73% from EU, major suppliers include Germany (28%) and Poland (9%).

Political Structure

• Form of Government: Parliamentary democracy (constitution from December 1992).
• President: Ceremonial role, politically neutral.
• Prime Minister: Head of government, responsible for policies and governance.
• Parliament: Bicameral system -
  • Chamber of Deputies: 200 members, 4-year terms, proportional representation.
  • Senate: 81 members, 6-year terms, elected every two years.

Current Political Landscape

• Ruling Coalition: Five parties, including a centre-right group (Spolu) and a liberal progressive group, holding 108 out of 200 seats.
• Priorities: Economic stability, healthcare improvement, strong pro-EU relations.
• European Parliament Representation: 21 seats, ranking 8th among EU countries in terms of MEPs.

Relationship with the EU

• Public Sentiment: Mixed feelings about EU membership; 63% support membership (2023).
  • Historically Eurosceptic, with only 1 in 3 viewing membership positively.
• EU Contributions: Receives 2.8 billion Euros more than it contributes.
• Issues Influencing Sentiment:
  • Handling of Ukrainian refugee crisis.
  • Income disparities compared to wealthier neighbors.
  • Support for populist policies in the past.

Czech Voters' Perspective

• "Euroreformists": Desire for less EU involvement in daily life but more action on defense and quality of life improvements.

Conclusion

• Czechia's role in the EU is evolving, with significant historical context shaping current public opinion and political dynamics.
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