The Federal Republic of Germany in Czech foreign policy
The Federal Republic of Germany in Czech foreign policy

Author(s): Vladimír Handl
Subject(s): Political history, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Political behavior, Comparative politics, Present Times (2010 - today), EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment, Asylum, Refugees, Migration as Policy-fields
Published by: Ústav mezinárodních vztahů
Keywords: relationship between the Czech Republic and Germany; foreign policy; European policy;
Summary/Abstract: For a long period of time (since 2002), the Czech policy towards Germany has not been divided into as many areas as in 2015. On the one hand, the trend of intense co-operation continued on all the levels of the state administration and in all political departments; it was particularly intense in the border regions. The initiation of the Czech and German strategic dialogue had a special meaning – it was a new and promising instrument of the intensification of the Czech and German cooperation. On the other hand, the so-called refugee crisis tested the Czech and German relations, mainly in the field of political debate, the atmosphere of the whole society and certain particular measures (especially the issues of the quotas for the redistribution of refugees within the EU). There was also a topic that both parties perceived so differently in some aspects that it revealed the less visible differences in some basic coordinates and cultures of the Czech and German societies and policies. The strengthening of the national accents and the cooling down of the relations of the Czech Republic towards the EU, Germany, the establishment and mainstream political groups, and media presented a challenge for the policy and media of both parties. In the context of Central Europe, the Government of Bohuslav Sobotka occupied a central position and thus confirmed its role as a pragmatic and cooperative partner of Germany.

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