This systematic analysis of the Czech Republic‘s foreign policy is unique in its normative dimension, which it brings beyond the scope of other annual publications devoted to the subject. We consider it important that policymakers receive not only feedback from the expert community, but also recommendations for the future period. Last year, we significantly changed the format of the publication, in favour of a stronger focus on giving a holistic outlook and guidance as to which positions actors should take on various bilateral and multilateral issues.

After careful consideration, we have added two regions to the analysis this year. We have extended the chapter on Eastern Europe by another priority area of ​​Czech foreign policy in the EU neighbourhood, the Western Balkans. We have added Africa, with a focus on the sub-Saharan region, to the chapter on Middle East. Each chapter is divided into two parts – the first summarizes and evaluates the events of the past 12 months, in the second part we anticipate developments in the relevant area in the coming year and recommend the positions and actions that we consider appropriate with regard to long-term Czech foreign policy priorities. At the beginning of each chapter we reiterate the strong statements made by Czech foreign policy leaders, as well as at the end of each chapter we offer a bullet-form summary of the context of the area, the current state of Czech foreign policy within this area and the main recommendations. The thematic chapters are preceded with an introductory chapter focusing on the general political context and actions of the main actors.

Although the Czech foreign policy is significantly more institutionally stable than in the previous year, we cannot really talk of any fundamental positive development in the overall policy or in its individual areas. Although there have been some improvements to its appearance, the door – or window, if you will, as each country’s foreign policy is its window to the outside world, is still creaky.