(PRAGUE) - Czech President Vaclav Klaus is not planning to fly the European Union flag permanently at his Prague Castle residence during the Czech presidency of the EU, his spokesman said Monday.

He added that NATO and United Nations flags are not displayed permanently at the castle either, although the Czech Republic is a member of these organisations too.

Klaus, famous for his euroscepticism, had already refused to fly the EU flag in 2004, when the Czech Republic joined the EU, saying there was no reason because "we are not an EU province."

At that time, former President Vaclav Havel described Klaus's stance as scandalous.

Besides the presidential standard, the only flag flown at the castle is the Czech one, which is dominant, irreplaceable, and which should not be overshadowed by another, according to Klaus.

Other state institutions such as the government's office display both Czech and EU flags permanently.

The Czech Republic will take over the rotating EU presidency from France on January 1.

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