ABSTRACT
For quite some time, the Czech Republic had overestimated its prospects of entering the EU. Prime Minister Václav Klaus speculated on the persuasiveness of his early economic remedy reforms and did not invest in diplomatic institutions that would prepare negotiations and build up relations (Hanley 2002a). After the new government came to power with the 1996 election, the socialists managed to adopt the acquis communautaire and to negotiate the accession successfully. In the accession referendum of June 2003, 77 percent voted in favor, with a turnout rate of 55 percent.
