The Balkan Dimension of the Czech Foreign Policy
The Balkan Dimension of the Czech Foreign Policy

Author(s): Filip Tesař
Subject(s): Political history, Economic policy, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Political behavior, Comparative politics, Sociology of Culture, Transformation Period (1990 - 2010)
Published by: Ústav mezinárodních vztahů
Keywords: Czech Republic; Foreign Policy; Balkan region; EU; NATO; Kosovo; Economic Relations;
Summary/Abstract: The Czech foreign policy has been interested in the Balkans since its birth. Nevertheless, this interest was not very balanced: in the beginning, the Czech concerns were focused on Romania and, less evidently, on Bulgaria. Of the Western Balkan countries, the Czech foreign policy put Croatia first, followed by Serbia. Despite considerable differences in the approaches towards individual countries, at the general level a regional approach formally prevailed. This approach was seriously applied after the Czech accession talks started, but the four mentioned countries are still the main focus regarding strategic, contractual, economic and cultural ties, as well as development assistance, external relations of the Czech regions and towns, and non-governmental associations. Among them, the principal Czech partner is Romania. Bosnia-Herzegovina, despite some historical ties with the Czech Republic, is hindered by its slowgoing transition, which influenced, e.g. the development of the bilateral contractual relationship and the Czech FDI. If Greece, which before 2007 was the only Balkan EU member, can be counted as a member of one region together with the transition countries, it is rather distant in the Czech view as well. Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro are also quite distant countries in the Czech view, and Kosovo is the remotest one.

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