Prague  - Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek successfully defended place in his party's top post Sunday, a sign of continuity for the European Union as the Czech Republic prepares to chair the bloc and vote on its reform treaty.

In a 284-162 vote the Civic Democratic Party, which opposes deeper European integration, chose moderate and pragmatic Topolanek over his eurosceptic challenger, Prague Mayor Pavel Bem, party's election committee chairman Jan Vidim said. (dpa)