Czech Republic in the European Union and its relations with Yemen [Archives:2007/1059/Reportage]
By: Vaclav Zilka
The Czech Republic is one of the land-locked countries in the central part of Europe. With a population of 10 million and land area close to 80 thousand square kilometres the Czech Republic ranks among the smaller member states of the European Union. It joined the European Union in 2004 along with 9 other countries in the biggest enlargement in the Union's history.
The Czech state was constituted at the end of the 9th century with Prague as its capital, shortly after the Christianity had been introduced into the region. From the 16th century until 1992 the Czech country was part of larger state formations, most recently Czechoslovakia which split into the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic.
Industrial production in the Czech country has developed since the end of the 18th century, and western-style parliamentary system has been adopted since the end of the 19th century with two interruptions – German military administration during the Second World War 1939-1945 and Soviet-backed communist government 1948-1989.
After 1989 the European Union became Czech Republic's largest trading partner and investor. The Union also provided substantial technical assistance and financial support focused on transformation of a centrally planned economy into a market economy.
In 1993 the European Union agreed on criteria that Central and Eastern European countries would have to meet in order to become member states. The Czech membership application was submitted in 1996, and the Czech Republic joined the Union eight years later after extensive preparations and negotiations. The Czech Republic has 12 votes in the Council of the European Union and 24 seats in the European Parliament.
The Czech Republic still has to implement two important European integration measures. It has to join the so-called Schengen area and to adopt the common European currency – the euro.
The Schengen area includes European countries that have implemented the Agreement of Schengen on harmonisation of visa policy, external border controls and common Schengen visas. It is now expected that the Czech Republic will enter the Schengen area together with several other new member states at the beginning of next year. Currently the holders of a multiple entry Schengen visa can travel to the Czech Republic only on a up to 5-day transit. For a longer visit they need to have a separate Czech visa.
Before adopting the euro, the Czech Republic will have to have fulfilled a set of economic conditions called Maastricht convergence criteria. These are stipulated for the exchange rate fluctuation, price stability, long-term interest rates, government budgetary position and government debt to GDP ratio. There is no fixed timing for adopting the euro. However, the economic development in terms of fulfilling the Maastricht criteria has to be regularly documented. It now seems probable that the Czech Republic will be ready to adopt the euro sometime between 2010 and 2012.
Czech-Yemeni relations already have some tradition. Czech products have been imported into Yemen since 1920s. The first agreement on diplomatic relations was signed in 1938, and the Czechoslovak embassy was opened in Sana'a in 1964. Many Yemeni students studied in Czechoslovakia or later in the Czech Republic which continues to offer 7 scholarships a year for candidates nominated by the relevant Yemeni ministries.
Other projects of the Czech development cooperation in Yemen are in the field of water management and improvement of power generation. Czech funding for bilateral development cooperation here amounts to around US$ 1 mil. per year.
The volume of trade between the two countries in 2006 was US$ 8.5 mil. consisting mostly of Czech exports to Yemen. The major items are Skoda cars, electrotechnical equipment, steel tubes, diesel engines and pharmaceuticals. The Czech Republic imports from Yemen mainly frozen fish.
For Yemenis the Czech Republic has become a popular destination for spa or medical treatment, and Czech tourists are beginning to discover Yemen as an attractive place for touring holidays.
Vaclav Zilka is Charge d'Affaires a.i. of the Czech Embassy in Sana'a.
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