Data released by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights in its Roma Survey 2024 put a number to what many already knew: one in three Roma across the surveyed EU countries reported facing discrimination within the past year. In the Czech Republic, the figure is worse. The discrimination cuts across daily life — job applications rejected, barriers in healthcare, unequal treatment on public transport, exclusion from private services and educational opportunities. The survey documents a pattern that advocates have described for years but that mainstream policy has been slow to address. The findings came into fresh focus around International Roma Day on April 8, when President Petr Pavel received around twenty Roma community leaders at Prague Castle. Pavel estimated that roughly 250,000 Roma currently live in the Czech Republic, a number he framed as a reason — not an excuse — for urgency. Full integration of this community, he said, is a condition for building a genuinely tolerant and functional society. What Czechs Think — and Where They’re Wrong Public opinion data adds another layer to the picture. A survey by the Public Opinion Research Center conducted last August found that more than half of Czech respondents believe Roma...
Despite headline inflation holding below two percent at the start of 2025, Czech households are feeling a very different reality. A new survey by Ipsos found that nearly two-thirds of households — 65% — are spending more each month than they were a year ago, with food prices and a broad rise in the cost of goods leading the way. The findings point to a growing divide along income lines. Among households earning up to 30,000 Czech crowns per month, nearly one in three respondents — 29% — reported a significant jump in expenses. In households earning above 70,000 crowns, that figure drops to just 8%. “Most households are dealing with rising costs, but the pressure is hitting those with lower incomes hardest,” said Jaroslav Ondrůšek, chief analyst at Home Credit. Women and people between the ages of 45 and 53 are also among those reporting the steepest increases. Where the Money Is Going Respondents were clear about what is driving their costs up. Nearly two-thirds pointed to food as the primary factor. Around 42% cited a general rise in the price of goods, while 40% named higher energy, transportation, and service costs as the main pressure on their budgets....
Liberation Day is a national holiday celebrated in the Czech Republic on 8 May each year. This is the same date as the celebration known as V-E Day, VE Day or Victory in Europe Day that is celebrated across much of Europe. As the names suggest, the day signifies the victory of the Allied forces against the Axis forces at the end of World War II in 1945. In particular, the Czech Republic celebrates Liberation Day as the day its people were freed from Nazi rule. The day was originally celebrated on 9 May, but this was changed in 1989 to 8 May. Some people call the holiday Liberation from Fascism Day. On May 8, with Allied troops approaching from west and east, the Czechs negotiated a cease-fire with the Germans. The situation was now critical; the Czechs lacked the machinery and the weaponry to continue fighting the Germans, and the city’s Old Town was in flames. Part of the cease-fire was a guarantee, from the Germans, that the city would not be harmed further. The Czechs knew that, with help on the way, the cease-fire would be far more beneficial to them than it seemed on the surface. “To...
The Czech Republic is often presented as the country with the lowest level of poverty in the European Union. According to data from Eurostat, around 11.5 percent of people were at risk of poverty or social exclusion last year, compared to an EU average of 20.9 percent. This places the country ahead of neighbors such as Germany, Austria and Poland. In Germany, the share stood at 21.2 percent, while Austria reported 18.8 percent and Poland 15 percent. Slovakia recorded 16.7 percent. At first glance, the figures suggest a strong position. The Czech Republic has ranked near the top of this indicator for years, reinforcing the image of a country with relatively low inequality. Yet economists and social analysts say the data does not fully capture how people actually live. The Eurostat indicator defines poverty as earning less than 60 percent of the national median income. In practical terms, that threshold was about 19,090 crowns per month for an individual in the Czech Republic last year, and 24,817 crowns for a single parent with a young child. The measure also considers whether households can afford basic needs such as heating, holidays or unexpected expenses. But critics argue the method focuses too...
Beer production in the Czech Republic has fallen to its lowest level in 15 years, reflecting a broader shift in how and where people drink. Data from the Czech Association of Breweries and Malteries show that breweries produced 19.96 million hectoliters last year, down 4.3 percent from the previous year and well below pre-pandemic levels. Consumption is also declining. The average Czech drank 121 liters of beer last year, a drop equivalent to eight large beers compared to the year before. The figures point to a deeper change in behavior, especially among younger people. Beer is no longer treated as a default part of social life in pubs. Instead, younger consumers are choosing non-alcoholic options, fruit radlers and specialty beers. Overall consumption is lower, but more selective. Brewers say the shift reflects a growing focus on lifestyle and moderation. Drinkers are paying more attention to quality and variety rather than volume. Interest in non-alcoholic beer has risen steadily, while demand for stronger, traditional lagers has weakened. Non-alcoholic beer, once a marginal category, has become one of the fastest-growing segments. Production reached 1.68 million hectoliters last year, with consumption more than doubling over the past decade. Industry representatives say this is...
On May 9, mills across the Czech Republic will open their doors to the public as part of Open Mills Day, a nationwide event aimed at bringing historic technical landmarks back into public life. The date is tied to May 13, 1116, when historical records first mentioned a mill sign in the Czech lands. Across the country, visitors will be able to enter buildings that are usually closed, explore their interiors, and see how traditional milling technology worked. Guided tours, live demonstrations, and conversations with owners and experts form the core of the program. The event connects municipalities, preservation groups, and private owners who maintain these structures, many of which are considered cultural heritage sites. The aim is not only to present their technical function but also to show them as places where people once met, worked, and exchanged news. Many locations will offer free or voluntary admission, while others charge a small fee. Programs vary, but most include demonstrations of mill mechanisms, access to restricted areas, and commentary explaining the history and significance of each site. More info here. List of Open Mills 2026 (partial) Borovnice, okr. Trutnov, replica of a German-type mill, (open 10–12 and 13–17), admission fee...
Four towns in the Czech Republic have been included in a new ranking of the most beautiful small towns in Central Europe. The list, compiled by the travel platform My Wanderlust, places Kutná Hora in third position, making it the highest-ranked Czech entry. The town, once a major center of silver mining in medieval Europe, still carries traces of its past in its preserved streets and historic buildings. The ranking also points to the Sedlec Ossuary beneath the Cemetery Church of All Saints, known for its interior decorated with human bones, which continues to draw international attention. Another Czech town, Český Krumlov, appears in sixth place. Set along a bend of the Vltava River, it is often visited for its compact historic center and castle complex. The ranking presents it as a suitable destination for short stays, particularly for visitors looking for a quieter setting with notable architecture. Further down the list, Třeboň takes the 20th spot. The South Bohemian town is known for its network of ponds and its orderly square, offering a slower pace that contrasts with larger urban centers. Mikulov, located in South Moravia near the Austrian border, ranks 29th, noted for its position among vineyards and...
The Czech Republic’s labor market continues to draw workers from abroad, with more than 1.08 million foreign nationals now employed legally in the country. The estimate, based on data from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, points to steady but modest growth in the foreign workforce. The country still ranks among those with a relatively low share of foreign workers compared with other members of the OECD, a group of 38 developed economies. In Western Europe, foreign participation in the labor market is significantly higher. One sector stands out. Construction employs a large share of foreign labor, with roughly one in five workers coming from abroad. Out of a workforce exceeding 400,000 people, Ukrainians account for about 10 percent. Another 10 percent are Slovaks and workers from countries in the Eastern Balkans, including North Macedonia. Industry representatives warn that demand for labor will rise further as large-scale infrastructure projects move forward. Among them is the planned expansion of the Dukovany nuclear power plant, which is expected to place additional pressure on an already stretched workforce. Jiří Nouza, head of the Association of Construction Entrepreneurs, said the sector’s stability depends on faster visa processing and less bureaucracy. Without changes, companies...
May 1 is widely known as Labor Day across much of Europe, but its origins go back to a tense industrial conflict in the United States in the late 19th century. The date is tied to the struggle for an eight-hour working day and to events in Chicago that later became part of international labor history. In 1886, a wave of strikes spread across the United States as workers demanded shorter working hours without wage cuts. On May 1, unions and anarchist groups called a nationwide strike. Around 300,000 workers took part. The central demand was an eight-hour workday, a standard that was not yet widely accepted. Tensions escalated a few days later in Chicago. On May 3, clashes between workers and police led to deaths among demonstrators. The following day, during a rally at Haymarket Square, an explosion killed both police officers and civilians. The incident triggered arrests and a high-profile trial. Several anarchist activists, including August Spies, Albert Parsons, Adolph Fischer, George Engel and Louis Lingg, were convicted. The trial has since been widely discussed for its lack of clear evidence linking all defendants directly to the bombing. Four were executed and one died by suicide while in...
The cost of employing workers across the European Union rose again in 2025, with differences between countries continuing to stretch. New figures from Eurostat show that employers now pay nearly five times more for an hour of work in the bloc’s most expensive country than in its cheapest. Across the EU economy, the average hourly labor cost reached €34.9 last year. Within the eurozone, where 20 countries share the single currency, the average stood higher at €38.2. Both figures marked an increase from 2024, when costs were €33.5 and €36.8 respectively, reflecting steady upward pressure on wages and employer contributions. The divide between member states remains stark. Bulgaria recorded the lowest hourly labor cost at €12, followed by Romania at €13.6 and Hungary at €15.2. At the other end of the scale, Luxembourg topped the list at €56.8 per hour. Denmark and the Netherlands followed, with costs of €51.7 and €47.9. Labor costs in Europe are made up of wages and additional expenses paid by employers, mainly social security contributions. These non-wage costs account for roughly a quarter of total labor expenses across the EU, at 24.8 percent, and slightly more in the eurozone at 25.6 percent. Their share varies...
The proposed long-term agreement would see Prague secure up to 2 billion cubic meters of gas annually starting later this decade. The Czech Republic is moving closer to a significant new energy agreement with Azerbaijan, aiming to import up to 2 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year as part of efforts to diversify supply sources. Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlíček said during a visit to Azerbaijan that deliveries could begin between 2028 and 2029. While the contract has not yet been formally signed, Havlíček indicated that negotiations are advanced and the deal is effectively promised. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš also confirmed that the Czech energy group ČEZ is actively seeking additional gas supplies as the government seeks to secure long-term energy stability. The planned imports would represent a notable share of Czech demand. According to the Energy Regulatory Office, the country consumed 7.2 billion cubic meters of gas last year, a rise of 6.5 percent compared to the previous year. Currently, Norway remains the Czech Republic’s main supplier, while liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments are largely sourced from the United States. Havlíček said the annual cost of Azerbaijani gas could reach around 20 billion Czech crowns, depending...
You have moved to the Czech Republic. Congratulations. Now you are in for a rollercoaster of authorities, paperwork, and forms that will make your head spin for a month after your arrival. Housing, work, a bank account, a phone, a residency stamp. And somewhere amidst all this, it might occur to you that you’d like to play online. Fine. But before you click anywhere, it’s good to know how the Czech gambling market actually works. And hey, it’s actually a fair system. Rules exist, someone enforces them, and you can navigate through it faster than you’d expect. You just need to know where to look before falling for a welcome banner. A Czech domain? That doesn’t mean anything yet Almost everyone makes this mistake. The website looks Czech, the address ends in .cz, the design seems professional. So it must be fine, right? Well, no. You can’t tell if an online casino is legal by its language or domain. You can tell by whether the operator is on the official list of the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic. It sounds bureaucratic. But it’s the most reliable filter you have at your disposal. Moreover, the Ministry also publishes a...
Don’t have an account? Register
[swpm_registration_form level=”6″]
Already have an account? Log In
How Would You Like to Promote Your Business? PR ArticleDisplay bannersVideo productionNewsletter adsJob ListingsInfluencer Marketing
Your Email
We will come back to you within 24 hours with our proporsal
