The Czech reaction to the IGC failure – disillusion or indifference?

Article abstract:

The paper examines the position of the Czech Government at the final session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on 12 December 2003 in Brussels. The Czech Government was keen to show that the Czechs did not have any 'red lines' in the negotiations. The issue of full representation in the Commission which earlier had seemed to be the priority on the Czech agenda was suddenly off the table, and Czech Prime Minister, Vladimir Spidla, announced that it was a priority to get a deal on voting. The Czech delegation tabled its own proposal, suggesting that there should be a parity between the Member States and their populations in the Council (either 50%-50%, 55%-55%, 60%-60%). But the Italian Presidency did not take up this proposal despite the fact that it enjoyed some support of other Member States. Mr Spidla's intention was to make his peers understand that the Czech Republic had the intention of joining a 'core Europe' should a 'two-speed Europe' emerge.