All eyes will be on the Czech Republic in the next six months as the former communist country today assumes the Presidency of the EU.

Following the stint of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who steered significant change amid one of the worst economic recessions to hit the block, the job of the Czech's will not be easy.

However, the other member states are confident the Czech Republic will rise to the occasion.

"Although some are sceptical about the Czech Presidency, particularly following the successful six months of the French, we are confident that the Czechs will also deliver," Foreign Minister Tonio Borg said optimistically yesterday.

Dr Borg says Malta will be concentrating on three main issues during the next six months.

The Mediterranean Union, on which Malta will have a Deputy Secretary General, the need to keep up the pressure on the Middle East peace process and the insistence on tangible EU help for the government's plan to connect to the European energy grid.

"We will also be keeping the pressure on illegal immigration so that the issue will keep being treated as a top priority item on the EU agenda. Over the past years we have already managed to convince the EU on the need to tackle this phenomenon and we will continue to insist on solidarity between members states to help over-burdened countries such as Malta," Dr Borg said.