The European Union should weaken or even repeal its environmental, labour and health rules to help pull Europe out of economic recession, according to Vaclav Klaus, president of the Czech Republic, the new holder of the EU’s rotating presidency.

In an article in Wednesday’s Financial Times, Mr Klaus confirms his reputation as the EU’s most politically incorrect head of state by pouring scorn on “global warming alarmists”, and by expressing the hope that the Czech government will not use its six-month presidency to advance closer EU integration.