Presidency of the Czech Republic in the Council of the EU

The presidency is one of the most important and most taxing tasks of the EU membership. The country holding the presidency plays a role that is not only organizational, but also liaising, political and representational.

The individual Member States take turns to preside over the Council of the EU. This is not a formal undertaking but one of the most important instruments by which the Member States may influence the appearance and the running of the EU. The term of the presidency is six months and the Member States execute this office on the basis of the principle of equality and rotation. The order in which the Member States assume the presidency was approved by the General Affairs & External Relations Council on 13 December 2004. The decision lays down the order in which countries hold the presidency up to 2020, and takes special care to alternate countries by size and geographical situation.

• The Czech Republic assumed the EU Presidency in the first half of 2009 (www.eu2009.cz).

Changes brought about by the Lisbon Treaty
The institution of the presidency of the Council of the European Union acquired a new face upon the Lisbon Treaty coming into force on 1 December 2009. Among the most important innovations belongs the introduction of two new high posts in the EU, and that is of post of the permanent President of the European Council, who will take over from the presiding country the tasks related to the organization of the work of the EU Council and its representation abroad, and of High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

The chair of the individual configurations of the EU Council, with the exception of the Foreign Affairs configuration, will continue to be held by the representatives of the EU Member States on the basis of the rotation system agreed by the decision of the European Council. These changes are supposed lead to the improved coherence and continuity of the EU Council.

The Member States in Declaration No. 9 (Declaration regarding Article 16 paragraph 9 of the Treaty on the European Union on the European Council Decision on the exercise of the Presidency of the Council), attached to the Lisbon Treaty, declare that they remain committed to the preservation of the pre-established groups of three Member States for the period of 18 months. These states will then decide themselves within this trio whether they shall rotate each 6 month in their presidency or whether they shall divide up the chairs in various configurations of the EU Council for the entire term of 18 months.
 
The further information about the presidencies (2007-2011):  

Germany, first half of 2007 
Portugal, second half of 2007 
Slovenia, first half of 2008 
France, second half of 2008 
Czech Republic, first half of 2009
Sweden, second half of 2009
Presidency Trio - Spain, Belgium, Hungary, 2010 - 2011

Further detailed information concerning the presidency can be found on the following websites: 

Official Czech EU Presidency website - eu2009.cz
Euroskop.cz – the portal about the European Union and our EU membership
Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the European Union, Brussels - a website containing a section on the Czech Presidency (EU 2009)
Council of the European Union