Zvyšování legitimity EU prostřednictvím podpory evropské veřejné sféry: analýza předsednictví ČR v Radě EU v roce 2022

This bachelor thesis presents a case study focused on the legitimacy of the public sphere in the European Union, using the example of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU. The aim of the thesis is to evaluate, through the analysis of information portals, to what extent and in what way these portals have contributed to strengthening the legitimacy of the European public sphere. The theoretical part is based on the theory of the public sphere, EU legitimacy and Europeanization of the public sphere, with an emphasis on the approaches of Jürgen Habermas. The empirical part analyses three selected portals, Euroskop, Euractiv and Europeum, using qualitative analysis. The research itself is based on the study of communication strategies, concepts and other documents of the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic and European institutions. Criteria such as citizen participation, quality and relevance of information or visit rate were examined regarding the Czech Presidency. The results show that the portals increased their activity in this period. The conclusions provide insights into the EU public sphere and the possibilities to improve communication on European affairs. Recommendations include a focus on participation of citizens, strengthening regional themes and increasing awareness of the concrete benefits of the EU.