A New Start in Transatlantic Relations: The View from the Czech EU Presidency

On February 9, the Center on the U.S. and Europe (CUSE) at Brookings and the Heinrich Böll Foundation hosted Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg for a public address on the transatlantic relationship.

With a new American president and administration now in office, an opportunity has arisen for revitalizing the transatlantic partnership. The 27 members of the European Union, under the leadership of the Czech Republic, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Council, is ready to work on new priorities and approaches to U.S. – Europe relations. In his remarks, Foreign Minister Schwarzenberg offered thoughts on these priorities, including on dealing with the challenges posed by the Middle East, Afghanistan, Russia and questions such as energy security and coping with climate change.

H.E. Karel Schwarzenberg became Foreign Minister in 2007. Previously, he served as the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Security in the Senate of the Czech Parliament. He was President of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (1984-1991), Chancellor in the Office of Czech President Havel (1990-1992). He was elected to the Senate of the Czech Parliament in 2004.