Brussels, 23/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - The idea of a eurozone head of state chairing the Eurogroup has not won over all critics. Czech European Affairs Minister Alexandr Vondra has slammed it as a tactic for inappropriately and damagingly getting round EU27 unity. “Nobody can take the Presidency away from the Czech Republic. There are formal rules of the game which cannot be changed without the consent of everyone,” he said on Thursday 23 October 2008, adding: “I am aware of the debate within the Eurogroup - an informal platform of Eurozone members, presided over by Jean-Claude Juncker.” (A spokesperson for German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Juncker was the “natural chairman” of any form of Eurogroup.) Vondra went on: 'If the Eurogroup agrees to be presided over by a Frenchman and to meet more frequently, most probably we will not be able to prevent this. However, it would not be a wise move, but one which would divide the EU rather than unify it. Bypass is a method used to cure a heart attack, but is not a suitable method for cooperation within the EU. The EU, hopefully, is not suffering from a heart attack.” Vondra said that “any speculation on extension of the current presidency are groundless and unacceptable.” He explained that the Czech Republic was ready to take over from France on 1 January 2009 “to fulfil the role of EU moderator for which it has been preparing for a long time”. (A.B./transl.fl)