The Czech government has approved a budget of CZK 80 million per year for the internships of state administration employees in the institutions of the European Union from next year. This amount is CZK 20 million higher than the previous contribution, and it aims to help the Czech Republic gain better representation in EU institutions. The initiative comes as the country has long lagged behind in this regard, despite having hundreds of Czechs working in EU institutions. The program aims to provide opportunities for the state administration employees to gain valuable experience and knowledge of the workings of the EU institutions.

The internships will be open to employees from various fields and sectors, and they will be offered the opportunity to participate in the daily work of the EU institutions. This experience can help them develop their professional skills, gain new perspectives, and build relationships with EU officials. The program is also expected to contribute to the overall effectiveness of the Czech representation in the EU and to enhance the country’s image in the EU.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala emphasized the importance of the initiative and stated that it was crucial for the Czech Republic to have a more significant presence in the EU institutions. He believes that the country has a unique opportunity to use people with experience from the recent presidency of the EU to contribute to the country’s representation in the EU.

The initiative has been welcomed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has highlighted the need to increase the representation of the Czech Republic in EU institutions. While hundreds of Czechs currently work in EU institutions, the country’s representation falls below the target set by the European Commission. The ministry believes that the internships will help Czech employees gain valuable experience and knowledge, which can be used to improve the country’s representation in EU institutions.

Article by Prague Forum