Govt approves EU state secretary post

Prague, Aug 31 (CTK) - The Czech government approved Wednesday the establishment of the post of state secretary for the EU, Prime Minister Petr Necas (Civic Democrats, ODS), has told journalists, but TOP 09 wants a government coalition conciliation proceeding to be held.

Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg (TOP 09) is opposed to the post of an EU state secretary who would be in charge of coordinating European issues.

He said the way Necas pushed through the post is a serious breach of trust between the government coalition partners.

The government also comprises the junior Public Affairs (VV) party.

The post will be filled by Vojtech Belling, now Government Office European section head, Necas said.

The ODS submitted the proposal to the government's previous meeting that the TOP 09 ministers did not attend.

"We consider the prime minister's procedure a serious breach of trust of the coalition partners. The latest version of this change to the government's order of procedure was submitted at nine o'clock Wednesday morning when the government meeting started, therefore there was no opportunity at all to deal with it, which is serious," Schwarzenberg told journalists.

He said he asked in September 2010 already that the proposal be submitted for comments, but this did not happen.

"To put it simply, it was as assault action Wednesday," Schwarzenberg said.

He said he minds "the incessant effort to transfer powers from the Foreign Ministry to the Government Office."

Schwarzenberg said the post might open space for creating a new ministry for European affairs.

Necas said the state secretary will mainly direct the talks of the government committee on the working level. He will not be in contact with ministers, he will not replace any minister, Necas said.

The position will be identical with the position of the current director of the European affairs section, he added.

The institution of the new post was discussed after the current centre-right government coalition was formed in the wake of the May 2010 general election.

Necas says the post is embedded in the agreement that the government coalition parties signed last year.

He said previously he needs an apparatus that will coordinate the Czech position for negotiations with the EU, many of which are of economic character.

Lubomir Zaoralek, the opposition Social Democrats' (CSSD) deputy chairman, said Wednesday neither Necas nor Schwarzenberg have sufficient authority.

This, together with the inability of the ODS and TOP 09 to reach agreement opens space for President Vaclav Klaus to interfere in Czech foreign policy.

Zaoralek said Klaus steps up the chaos in Czech foreign policy with his opinions.

He recalled Klaus's criticism of the approved government foreign political concept in a meeting with Czech ambassadors on Tuesday.

The dispute between the ODS and TOP 09 over the post of state secretary and the division of powers for European policy flared up shortly after the emergence of the coalition government.

Necas's government abolished the post of minister for the EU, but Necas wanted to have a state secretary who would help him coordinate European policy.

The government coalition, however, failed to reach agreement on the issue and it only returned to it now.