Jozef Síkela

Jozef Síkela has completed his first six months as EU Commissioner for International Partnerships. While abroad he negotiates on strategic raw materials, migration, and global investments, he remains virtually unknown in the Czech Republic. Why is he not visible, and what is the Czech Republic losing as a result? Deputy Director of the EUROPEUM Institute, Viktor Daněk, also reflects on the impact of the Bitcoin scandal in the Czech Republic and sheds light on the turbulent political developments in Poland, the Netherlands, and Romania.

Jozef Síkela has completed his first trip as Commissioner for International Partnerships, visiting Mauritania. The country is important to the European Union as a crossing point for refugees. It will receive support from Brussels of €5 billion, for projects in the areas of migration and energy. Zuzana Krulichová, a fellow researcher at EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Czech TV evening broadcast.

The Czech candidate for EU Commissioner Jozef Síkela succeeded in the so-called grilling before MEPs, which every nominated member of the EU executive must pass. He has won the support of a two-thirds majority of DEVE to become Commissioner for International Partnerships. The former trade and industry minister wants to strengthen partnerships with Africa and Latin America and intends to tackle the drivers of illegal migration. Viktor Daněk, deputy director at EUROPEUM Institute, commented for ČT24.