The laboured Czech European Union presidency tarnished by the fall of the government midway through the tenure is drawing to a close as the Czechs pass the baton to the Swedes on July 1.

The Czechs had to tackle several hot issues from the start as the economic crisis began to bite, Israel attacked Gaza and Russia closed the gas taps for Ukraine and hence for several EU countries amid severe winter weather. Czech officials and many in the EU are likely to breathe a sigh of relief after the troubled six-month tenure is over.

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