Canadian Academy Discover, Publish, Thrive
The article examines the impact of Brexit on EU policy-making in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, focusing on challenges within policy fields and advocacy capacities. It argues that the challenges faced by member states are influenced by their EU policy and ties to the UK in EU policy-making. Among the two countries studied, the Czech Republic is expected to face significant challenges in its EU policy-making due to Brexit.
Introduction
Brexit is considered a pivotal moment in the history of both Britain and the EU, described as the most significant shock the EU has faced since its inception. This complex issue has profound implications for the EU and its member states, including the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The article aims to examine the challenges Brexit poses to EU policy-making in these two countries. The impact of Brexit is anticipated in two main areas: intra-EU bilateral diplomacy and the shifting balance of power in the EU due to the UK’s departure. The paper focuses on the challenges faced by the Czech Republic in its EU policy-making, emphasizing the need for adjustments post-Brexit.
The analysis explores the period between the British referendum in June 2016 and the UK’s withdrawal in January 2020, aiming to contribute to the limited scholarly research on the challenges small EU member states face in the aftermath of Brexit. While acknowledging the early stage of understanding Brexit’s implications, the article aims to draw preliminary conclusions rather than making definitive predictions. The research addresses the neglect in academic literature regarding Brexit’s impact on Czech and Slovak foreign policy, aiming to fill this gap by mapping out challenges at the EU level. The paper concludes with a summary of the rationale, data used, and key concepts applied, providing insights into the challenges arising from Brexit for Czech and Slovak EU policy-making in specific sectors and advocacy capacities.
Case selection
The selection of the Czech Republic and Slovakia for the case analysis is based on their shared characteristics as Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, former communist states, small EU members, and members of the Visegrad Group. Both countries fall into the “core member states” category, significantly impacted by EU integration. They also face similar exposure to Brexit’s economic consequences. Despite general support for keeping the UK in the EU, both countries opposed UK Prime Minister Cameron’s proposals during the 2015-2016 EU renegotiation.
However, there are variations between the two nations. The Czech Republic maintains a somewhat ambiguous relationship with the EU, criticizing it cautiously, while Slovakia expresses a highly positive and enthusiastic attitude towards deepening integration. Slovakia is more Euro-optimistic, being a member of the Eurozone since 2009, unlike the Czech Republic. The Czech population is more Eurosceptic than Slovaks, with low trust in the EU.
In terms of relations with the UK, both countries view the UK as an important EU partner, but the Czech Republic has a stronger partnership, ranking the UK as the 6th most important EU member in policy-making. In contrast, for Slovakia, the UK doesn’t make it to the top-16 list. The UK is considered the 6th most responsive country for the Czech Republic but is seen as completely unresponsive in Slovakia. Both countries share disappointment with the UK, and despite similar general contact on European policy matters, Slovakia receives less response from the UK than expected.
Data and analytical framework
The study utilizes diverse data sources, including official government materials and elite interviews, to analyze the foreign policy actions of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Interviews with diplomatic sources, civil servants, and officials from various ministries were conducted between September 2017 and December 2019. The article adopts a rational choice model, assuming that states, as primary foreign policy actors, make decisions to maximize satisfaction and pursue consistent preferences. The focus is on individual state-level interactions within the EU, emphasizing the calculation of costs and benefits related to Brexit. The analysis aligns with previous applications of the rational choice model in withdrawal negotiations. Additionally, the study draws from literature on small states’ policy-making in the EU, highlighting the challenges they face and the strategies they employ, such as prioritization in policy fields and advocacy capacity. The emphasis on expertise is crucial, as small states are more successful when using expertise-based arguing strategies in EU decision-making processes.
Brexit challenges for Czech and Slovak EU Policy-making: an empirical analysis
The paper explores the impact of Brexit on Czech and Slovak EU policy-making, focusing on challenges and expectations in sectoral policy fields and advocacy capacities.
Policy fields:
Since joining the EU in 2004, the Czech Republic and Slovakia considered the UK a vital ally in European power dynamics, especially due to its support for EU eastward expansion. Brexit has resulted in both countries losing a key like-minded partner, impacting policy areas where they aligned with the UK. The Czech Republic, more so than Slovakia, strongly felt the loss, given the UK’s crucial role in EU coalition mechanisms and its role as a shield for Czech Eurosceptic views. The Czech Republic and the UK shared similar perspectives on various EU policy areas, emphasizing pragmatic decision-making and opposing duplication of NATO’s role by the EU. As a non-Eurozone country, the Czech Republic aligned with British views on EU economic governance, fearing reduced influence post-Brexit. There are concerns that Brexit might increase pressure for the Czech Republic to join the Eurozone. Additionally, the Czech government, in contrast to the president, supports sustaining sanctions against Russia, fearing Brexit could amplify Russian influence. On the other hand, Slovakia, a Eurozone member, had a less reliant relationship with the UK within EU coalition patterns, differing on economic governance and maintaining a reserved stance on sanctions against Russia. Overall, the Czech Republic anticipates broader sectoral impacts from Brexit compared to Slovakia, with a more emotionally charged response reflecting the Czech people’s warmth towards the British.
Advocacy capacities:
Membership in the EU created a complex multi-level governance system, fostering interactions between the UK, Czech Republic, and Slovakia in various forums. This led to the development of a dense network of bilateral contacts and consultations within the EU institutional framework. The Czech Republic, more than Slovakia, views Brexit as a strategic challenge, fearing a loss of advocacy capacities and potential disruptions in bilateral exchanges. Concerns in both countries arise from the belief that the departure of the UK may shift the balance of power within the EU, favoring the Franco-German axis. As a consequence, both nations anticipate the need for diversified coalition building and strengthening existing partnerships.
In response to Brexit, the Czech Republic and Slovakia are expected to focus on regional cooperation, particularly within the Visegrad Group, Slavkov format, Three Seas Initiative, and the New Hanseatic League. However, internal divisions within the Visegrad Group, stemming from authoritarian tendencies in Poland and Hungary, may pose challenges to cohesive cooperation. Additionally, both countries are likely to seek strategic partnerships with Germany and France, while also exploring new alliances and partnerships beyond the EU.
In summary, the aftermath of Brexit has prompted proactive efforts by the Czech Republic and Slovakia to establish new partnerships, reflecting a broader trend of realignment in the European coalition landscape towards flexible and multi-speed collaborations.
Concluding remarks
The analysis indicates that Brexit will have varying impacts on Czechia and Slovakia’s EU diplomacy and foreign policy-making. While both countries will face increased complexity, their divergent EU policies and ties to the UK within the EU coalition machinery will lead to distinct consequences. For the Czech Republic, the departure will notably affect attitudes towards the Eurozone, single market deepening, and EU Russia policy, whereas Slovakia will experience tangible effects on the liberal agenda, including trade, competition, innovation, and nuclear energy. The Czech Republic anticipates broader sectoral impacts due to Brexit, expressing concerns about the loss of British expertise and bilateral contacts. Both countries are compelled to develop new strategies and alliances to strengthen their voices within the EU, with the Czech Republic being more proactive given its historical reliance on the UK. However, it’s essential to note the complexity of Article 50 negotiations and the challenge of applying a standard rational choice model due to incomplete information. Member states also consider the net benefits from the single market and EU decision-making beyond the direct cost of the UK’s departure.
Source:
Brusenbauch Meislová, M. (2020). Same Challenge, Different Answers? Mapping out Brexit Challenges for Czech and Slovak EU Policy-Making. Politique européenne, 70, 144-165. https://doi.org/10.3917/poeu.070.0144