Czech Prime Minister at European Council
20.03.2014 / 18:53 | Aktualizováno: 21.03.2014 / 19:04
The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Bohuslav Sobotka attended the European Council meeting of EU Heads of State/Government on Thursday and Friday 20. and 21. March 2014. We deliver statement of the Czech Prime Minister ahead of the meeting.
What we should discuss today in the context of the Ukrainian situation is the issue of energy security in Europe and decreasing of dependency on Russia. This is the issue I would like to raise.
We should also discuss the issue of the European industry competitiveness and the energy-climate framework and I think that the topic of a strengthened energy security is the one which combines the long term goals of the EU.
Sanctions
We have supported a certain phasing of sanctions against Russia at the extraordinary summit of the EU. Today the topic is the debate on the second phase of sanctions which includes targeted visa ban and asset freeze measures to be taken against specific individuals. I don't think that the EC would exceed the second phase of sanctions today.