CZ PRES | RECETOX

Presidency of the Council

The Czech Republic will take over its already second presidency on 1 July 2022. The last time we ran the Council of the EU was in the first half of 2009. The preparation and exercise of the presidency of the Czech Republic in the Council of the EU is managed and coordinated by the Prime Minister through the Section for European Affairs of the Office of the Government. The Czech Presidency 2022 is organized in close co-operation with all ministries, in particular the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels, and other institutions at both national and European level. (source: https://www.eu2022.cz).

Official webpage of the CZ PRES is available at https://www.eu2022.cz/.

Council of the European Union

The Council of the EU is a place where the voice of the Member States is being heard. It is an EU institution where the Member States advance their national interests and express attitudes on significant political decisions and legislative proposals. The Council meets in 10 configurations, depending on the agenda being discussed (e.g. education, financial affairs, justice, transport, etc.). The Member States are represented at the meetings by ministers or state secretaries with the right to commit their government on the issues concerned (i.e. Minister of Transport attends the Transport Council, the Minister of Education attends the Education Council, etc.). The Council’s consent is required for the adoption of legislation, the conclusion of international commitments or the adoption of the budget, simply for all important decisions in the Union. Besides the European Commission and the European Parliament, the Council is the main player in the EU decision-making.

Czech Presidency in the Council (CZ PRES)

The presidency of the Council rotates among the EU Member States every 6 months according to an order established in advance. The country holding the presidency sets the agenda and priorities of the Council. Therefore the presidency is considered to be one of the most important instruments to enhance the prestige and also the ability to advance the interests of individual Member States. The Member State holding the presidency becomes the center of EU policy-making for half a year. The presidency chairs the Council meetings (in nine configurations out of the ten) and represents the Council in the negotiations with the other EU institutions (European Parliament, European Commission). At the same time, as a rule, the Prime Minister of the Member State holding the presidency represents the Union externally and participates, for example, at the EU summits with Third States. The presidency follows priorities that are presented to the Council and the European Parliament at the beginning of its term. Three consecutive Member States work together on their priorities. They develop a common framework program, the content of which determines the meetings of the Council of the EU and thus the entire EU over an 18 month period.

RECETOX and CZ PRES

Again, RECETOX will be involved in the preparation and implementation of the Czech Presidency through its experts and expert capacities, especially during the working groups on chemicals and other R&D&I related issues. Within the RECETOX, experts from the National Center for Toxic Substances and the Regional Center, as well as a number of students in our bachelor's and master's degree programs, are dedicated to contribute to the presidency implementation.

Below is an updated overview of the events in which RECETOX will participate in the six-month presidency.

Date	Event	RCX Participant	Short description of the event	RECETOX Contribution
20. 7. 2022	WP IEI Chemicals Brussels	K. Šebková	EU Working Group on International Chemical Agenda.	Preparation for the SAICM IP4, Science-to-policy Panel, Debrief/follow up BRS COPs
21.-22.7.2022	Informal meeting of European Research Ministers (COMPET) Prague	J. Klánová	Informal meeting of EU research ministers on synergies in science and innovation funding. Following the event, the so-called Prague Declaration on Synergies in the Funding of Science, Research and Innovation will be formulated.	Lecture and discussion on the operation, general role and financing of the research infrastructures on the national and international scale.
29. 8. – 2. 9. 2022	SAICM IP-4 Bucharest	K. Šebková, L. Pokorný, K. Řiháčková, L. Bielská (N. Šelleová – stáž)	The main challenge will be to develop future measures for a strategic approach and sound management of chemicals and waste after 2020 for consideration and adoption at the next meeting of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5).	Representation of the Presidency in individual negotiation formations.
7. 9. 2022	WP IEI EfE (Working group on international environmental issues - Environment for Europe) Brussels	L. Pokorný	A working coordination group in Brussels to complete preparations for the Ministerial Conference for the Environment for Europe in Cyprus (5-7 October 2022).	Chairing the working group.
15. – 16. 9. 2022	WP IEI Global – informal Prague	L. Pokorný O. Adamovský	An informal working group on global issues that will deal with plastics.	Invited lecture.
25. 9. 2022	WP IEI Chemicals Brussels	K. Šebková	EU Working Group on International Chemical Agenda.	Follow-up on IP4, preparation for Science-to-Policy Panel
3. – 7. 10. 2022	9th Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference (established in 1991 in Dobříš) Cyprus	L. Pokorný, O. Mikeš	The 9th Ministerial Conference of the Environment Process for Europe will have 2 main topics (sustainable infrastructure and sustainable tourism).	L. Pokorný will chair/co-chair the EU coordination., O. Mikeš will give the lecture and lead the discussion at the side event.
3. – 7. 10. 2022	1st meeting Science-to-Policy Panel ad-hoc WG Bangkok	K. Šebková	The first meeting of the open ad-hoc group to set up a panel on chemicals	Coordination of EU and its representation
19.-21. 10. 2022	International Conference on Research Infrastructures - ICRI 2022 Brno	J. Klánová (Leaders of RI)	International conference on Research Infrastructures, which is accompanied with numerous satelite and side events to be organized alongside the conference.	EIRENE RI: Addressing a Challenge of Human Exposome Grand opening of CELSPAC Biobank
25. 10. 2022	WP IEI Chemicals Brussels	K. Šebková	EU Working Group on International Chemical Agenda.	Science-to-Policy Panel Follow-up
29. 11. – 4. 12. 2022	12th Conference of Parties on the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents Geneve	L. Pokorný	The meeting of the Contracting Parties to this Convention is more of a technical matter - it concerns the sharing of good practice in the field of accident prevention.	L. Pokorný will chair/co-chair the EU coordination.
November 2022	WP IEI Chemicals Brussels	K. Šebková	EU Working Group on International Chemical Agenda.	To be announced
December 2022	WP IEI Chemicals Brussels	K. Šebková	EU Working Group on International Chemical Agenda.	To be announced