Czech Republic: Six-month term holding the rotating EU presidency starts 2009 - je 01.01.2009 12

New Year's Day also marks the launch of the Czech Republic's six-month term holding the rotating EU presidency. Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek has a full agenda of European issues to deal with, and says he's organizing a diplomatic mission to Gaza on behalf of the EU to address the conflict there. Observers are also watching what effects the country's famously Euro-skeptical head of state Vaclav Klaus will have on the Czech EU presidency.