Euronews correspondent Méabh Mc Mahon studies on her journey to Prague because the Czech Republic takes over the EU Council presidency beginning this month.
"I'm sorry, I have no idea" was the repeated response to my query do you know that the Czechs are at the moment presiding over the European Union?
I'm within the Letná district of Prague – a stylish neighbourhood the place in line with Jiri, my native digicam man "everybody desires to stay."
There I meet Mikulas Peksa, a European lawmaker principally noticed in Strasbourg or Brussels, however because it's Friday, the younger Pirate Occasion politician is working from dwelling.
He tells me the Czech presidency will give an enormous enhance to his nation, nonetheless bruised by the dangerous press generated by former prime minister and billionaire, Andrej Babis.
"Normally in the event you stay in a rustic like Czechia is, you count on the others just like the US, Germany, France, Russia to determine your destiny, and also you see the large issues within the media, however now it's the Czechs and our Prime Minister is the one collaborating on this theatre and that's truly attention-grabbing I'd say," says Peksa.
Political scandals
Most individuals I communicate to about politics, whether or not native or European, increase their eyes. Their belief in authority appears skinny. The previous premier who was in energy from 2017 till 2021 faces costs over European Union subsidy fraud involving his farm outdoors Prague.
When a brand new coalition was sworn in again in December with 5 events starting from conservative to pirates, they promised to root out corruption.
However on the eve of their EU presidency, a scandal stirred which compelled the minister for schooling Petr Gazdík to step down.
He was a member of the Mayors and Independents Motion (STAN), the second largest of the 5 events forming the nationwide governing coalition.
"The scandal naturally weakened the STAN (Mayors and Independents) social gathering rather a lot, different coalition events had been affected solely barely, however coalition authorities nonetheless stands agency," Dr Petr Simply from the Metropolitan College Prague tells me the federal government has a snug majority but when STAN withdrew, it could lose that help.
The pinnacle of STAN is Vit Rakušan - the deputy prime minister and inside minister. I sit down with him for an off-the-cuff dinner together with a number of different Brussels-based journalists.
"We've got plenty of huge issues. Inflation is among the highest within the EU," Rakusan says. The previous mayor tells me all of the matters on his plate for the following six months.
With a lot to repair at dwelling from rising gasoline, electrical energy, water and meals costs, how will he have time to guide Europe I'm wondering, and the way do his voters really feel?
"You possibly can sense some disappointment with the EU right here," he says.
"Czech enterprise, Czech individuals - they don’t really feel the influence on their lives...there are too many guidelines and an excessive amount of paperwork. It will be simpler if we had been within the eurozone".
The inside minister says he'll attempt to carry outcomes to the individuals at dwelling and overseas - like getting Croatia, Romania, and Bulgaria to hitch Schengen.
"The door continues to be closed and other people in these international locations are dropping hope, they're dropping belief within the EU," he provides.
Petr Simply says that folks normally are conscious of the EU Council presidency however that they don't see it as vital.
"It follows from the final method of the Czech society in direction of the EU, which is kind of "chilly" and distant. Folks have no idea a lot about how the EU works," he provides.
First precedence stays Ukraine
Past international warming, migration and skyrocketing inflation - the primary precedence of the Czech presidency might be Ukraine - making an attempt to cease the warfare and serving to these impacted.
With comparable cultures and languages, the Czech Republic is a number nation for the primary time. Over 300,000 Ukrainians have come - principally girls and kids.
The dilemma now I'm advised, is whether or not to 'combine them' or simply 'adapt them'.
"Ukraine desires them again when it's protected for them to return," Rakusan says, including that many have discovered work and have realized to talk "as it's so just like Ukrainian."
I go to the Russian embassy in Prague the place the lights are on and there may be any person dwelling, however the splendid mansion perched by a park is surrounded by police tape from when locals painted the doorway in pretend blood.
"After the Russian assault on Ukraine, individuals began to fret extra about defence and safety," Simply says including how the recognition of NATO and Czech NATO membership has elevated quickly because the warfare in Ukraine.
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