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Brussels – Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) met today in Brussels with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who is looking for members of her new team. On the social network X, Fiala described the meeting as pleasant and constructive, but did not provide any further details on the content of the discussions. Government spokeswoman Lucie Ješátková previously informed ČTK that neither the Prime Minister nor Strakova Academy planned to comment on Fiala’s meeting with von der Leyen today.
The Czech government will finalize the nomination of Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Síkela (STAN) for Czech EU Commissioner on Wednesday. Fiala hopes to negotiate an economic portfolio for him. On Wednesday morning, Fiala will also present the proposal to members of the European Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies.
At the end of July, Von der Leyen asked the governments of EU countries to submit the names of two candidates, one woman and one man, for the post of Commissioner by August 30. The Cabinet decided the day before that it would propose only one candidate to the Commission. The governing Mayors and Independents (STAN) had pushed for the nomination of two candidates, taking into account previous discussions with the Commission President. In addition to Síkela, they also proposed MEP Danuše Nerudová.
Each EU member state has one representative in the Commission. The Commission should start functioning in November after the June elections to the European Parliament.
Fiala had previously said openly that he wanted to secure a significant position for the Czech Republic in the next mandate, and wrote on X that the country’s portfolio should reflect its position “in the heart of Europe.” According to Euronews, the problem is that the fiercest battles in this cycle, as in others, are being fought over economic roles that determine the direction of the EU single market. (August 19)