Předsednictví České republiky v Radě Evropské unie

The thesis deals with the topic of multilateral diplomacy of small states, specifically dealing with the issue of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The choice of this topic reflects its relevance for the Czech academic environment and the importance of the role of multilateral diplomacy in the foreign policy strategy of small states. The thesis examines the relevance of this institution in its current form for smaller EU states, as it has undergone significant changes since the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty. The applied part consists of a comparative analysis of the two Czech mandates in 2009 and 2022. The aim of the thesis is to formulate specific recommendations on how the Czech Republic should approach this role in the future, or to apply some of the findings to the Czech approach to European politics in general. In this respect, the thesis has offered several conclusions, among which we can mention, for example, the need for a basic political consensus in foreign policy, awareness of the importance of adequate staffing, preparedness for crisis scenarios, the existence of a long-term strategy of political priorities in the EU, or the involvement of young people.