The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Prague

The Czech Republic took over the rotating European Union presidency Thursday, with the bloc aiming to see its new governance treaty approved in 2009.

At the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, authorities illuminated central Prague's giant metronome know as the "Time Machine" in the Czech colors of red, white and blue and the EU blue flag with yellow stars.

President Vaclav Klaus - the most outspoken Czech critic of the treaty - said the EU presidency would give the country a chance "to influence the activity of this important organization."

"It is in our interest to succeed in this role," Klaus said in his New Year's Day speech to the nation.

But Klaus is known as the country's most prominent Euro-skeptic, and in the past he has said that "a well-functioning, bureaucratic EU is not my goal." He has opposed the so-called Lisbon Treaty because, he says, it is undemocratic and would limit nations' sovereignty.

And during Czech presidency of the bloc, Klaus has vowed not to fly the EU flag over Prague Castle because, he said, the country "is not an EU province."

The last EU presidency under France featured efforts to tackle Europe's economic woes, and the next six months of Czech leadership will also involve dealing with the global financial crisis and overseeing implementation of a new $258 billion European economic stimulus package.