When European Commission President Jose Manuel Barosso visited the Czech Republic this week, there was a significant moment when he and the recently-elected Czech President Milos Zeman stood side by side as they watched the European Union flag being raised over the Prague Castle.

It was a strong sign of a rapprochement between Prague and Brussels, as the previous president had refused such an action.

President Zeman used the visit as a backdrop for his signing of the European Stability Mechanism, which is an amendment to the Lisbon Treaty allowing for bank bailouts. This is also something the previous President Vaclav Klaus refused to do, denouncing it as "monstrous" and "absurd."

During the visit, the Czech president reaffirmed his support for a strong federation with common taxes, a marked departure from his predecessor.

"I have always held the view that the European Union requires common foreign policy, common defence policy and, of course, common fiscal policy, including the gradual harmonisation of tax systems," said Zeman.

Analysts agreed Zeman was indicating strong support for the EU and in doing so, he was doing a u-turn from his own position during the presidential campaign. Then, he embraced Klaus' standpoint. So much so that during the campaign it appeared as if Zeman was running as the ideological successor to Klaus.

However, their post-election relationship has returned to the enmity and antagonism that marked their time as parliamentary colleagues.

The Czech Republic has had a tumultuous relationship with the EU, for which much of the blame can arguably be laid at the feet of Klaus.

Like the populations of most EU-candidate countries, the Czech people were mostly in favour of the EU before their accession, though that support has drastically decreased since then.

Klaus has used the bully pulpit to repeatedly undermine the reputation and legitimacy of the EU in the eyes of the Czech people, which could definitely be a contributing factor to the decline of popular support. Czechs now regularly rate as among the most eurosceptic people in Europe.

Zeman's return to the fold of the euro-faithful is a welcome development for Brussels. A far cry from the presidency of Klaus who was able to cause much havoc, particularly when he tried to sink the Lisbon Treaty by indefinitely delaying his signature (he later signed it, but only after the EU capitulated to some of his demands).

The trip appears to have been a success from Barroso's perspective, and even ended on a light-hearted note. Zeman suggested that if Barroso no longer liked Brussels, he could move the European capital to Prague.

It may have been a joke, but it is a definite sign that the Czech Republic's relationship with the EU has started to go in a more positive direction.