Caspian Energy (CE): Your Excellency, Czechia lies in the very heart of Europe. How is “the heart” of Europe beating now? Which problems of EU’s internal organisation or disarrangement disturb the President of the Czech Republic most of all? 

Miloš Zeman, President of the Czech Republic: The EU stands right now in front of the new elections to the European Parliament that means this year will be probably crucial for the future direction of the EU and functioning of the Union institutions as well. I believe, the EU has to concentrate right now on boosting the economic growth, creating new jobs and not on new bureaucratic directives like light bulbs regulation. Being European federalist, I can imagine enhanced powers of the European Parliament and democratically elected EU government that would replace today’s bureaucratic Commission. In regards of current development in Ukraine, we need strong Europe which would be self-sufficient in areas of security, defence, economy and finance, innovations. In other words the EU needs further integration and the Czech Republic is ready to support that.