Czechs say energy security key EU presidency goal

                                
 By Jana Mlcochova
                                
 PRAGUE, Jan 6 (Reuters) - The Russia-Ukraine gas row shows
the European Union needs a long-term energy security strategy,
the Czech Republic said on Tuesday, making the issue one of its
main tasks in its six-month stint as EU president.
                                
 Apart from issues like the war in Gaza, the EU presidency's
focus will be on the global economic crisis, although Prague
remained cool towards large fiscal stimulus packages endorsed by
some EU states, a government minister said.
                                
 The Czechs, who have not yet ratified the EU's Lisbon
Treaty, have a wobbly minority government and an openly
eurosceptic president. They face some mistrust among EU partners
after taking over the EU leadership from France on Jan. 1.
                                
 The energy focus aims to boost the bloc's energy security by
having more diverse supplies, and Prague plans to discuss the
issue at the spring EU summit in Brussels.
                                
 "The main issue is to find out what demand for energy
commodities there is in Europe, because that is an area that
requires certain long-term strategic planning," said Deputy
Prime Minister for European Affairs Alexandr Vondra.
                                
 "The current situation regarding gas only confirms this," he
told a news conference, presenting the country's EU agenda. 
                                
 The Czech EU presidency and the European Commission called
on Tuesday for an immediate resumption of gas supplies from
Russia, hit by a row between Moscow and Kiev.
                                
 "Drastically curbing deliveries this way is no solution to
business disputes. It is impossible to hold other countries
hostage," Vondra said.
                                
 He said one option was to look to supply and transit states
around the Caspian Sea and central Asia, among others. The Czech
Republic, a central European country of 10.4 million, is pushing
for movement on a plan to build the Nabucco pipeline, meant to
bring gas from central Asia via Turkey.
                                
 Prague also wants to help tackle the global financial crisis
while also making sure the EU does not give up on structural
reforms, Vondra said, a tough task amid plans by some European
governments to raise spending to stave off recession.
                                
 The Czechs have been hit less hard than others, having
suffered no bank collapses and opposing generous deposit
insurance schemes. They have been wary of any large fiscal
injections and say measures must be short-term and targeted.
                                
 "It would be bad if, as a price for short-term measures, we
give up on structural reforms that -- from the medium and long
term perspective -- can ensure that the old continent succeeds
in global competition," Vondra said.
                                
 The former member of the Soviet bloc also aims to boost
relations within eastern Europe through an Eastern Partnership,
similar to the French-led Mediterranean Union.
 (Writing by Jan Lopatka; Editing by Charles Dick)