ABSTRACT
As a candidate state, the Czech Republic was forced to accept EU rules and policies that it had no role in making. As a member state, however, the Czech Republic has a formal role in EU institutions and an opportunity to influence the EU decision-making process. In other words, the Czech Republic is no longer simply a “policy taker,” but also now a “policy maker.” This chapter examines how state and political actors in the Czech Republic have adapted to this role and how the Czech Republic has behaved as EU actor since accession. It begins by looking at the Czech Republic’s official presence and representation in EU institutions. The chapter then examines the Czech Republic’s preferences and positions in different policy areas and its efforts to influence EU decision-making on these issues.
