Czechia

Czech Republic to Introduce Mandatory Collection of Textile Waste from 2025

The Czech Environment Ministry recently announced plans to enforce compulsory textile waste collection from 2025. The initiative, announced at a press conference by environment minister Petr Hladik, aims to align with the European directive on waste management. Producers will assist municipalities in bearing the collection costs. The priority is to foster textile reuse and efficient recycling practices, the minister said. Textiles often get discarded now into mixed waste bins, significantly affecting recycling efforts. The proposed strategy targets enhancing citizens’ engagement by setting up collection points across municipalities. Nearly 10,000 textile containers dot the Czech Republic, but the existing Waste Act merely mandates collection points, not recycling. Hladik underscored the lack of financial compensation to municipalities for establishing these collection points under the previous government, according to a Czech media outlet. The aim is to expand beyond containers, integrating collection points in varied locations like town halls and retail outlets. Recycling fees could potentially be shared between sellers and manufacturers, with eventual implications for consumer pricing. There has been a yearly rise in textile waste production in the country. Around 180,000 tonnes of textiles are discarded annually, with a mere 3-4 per cent entering mixed waste bins and 39,000 tonnes being...

 by Karolina Kubičková Dec 08, 2023

Drop in Czech Retail Sales Slowed Down to 1.4% in October

Czech retail sales decreased by 1.4% year on year and increased by 0.6% month on month in October, in the softest monthly drop in a year and a half. The drop in sales eased compared to the 4% y/y drop in September and the 2.8% y/y drop in August. “Compared to October 2022, sales of food and non-food goods decreased, whereas sales of automotive fuel increased,” commented Jana Gotvaldova of the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO). “All assortment types of stores except for those with cosmetic and toilet recorded a decrease in sales,” she added. Retail sales of clothing, footwear and leather goods in specialised stores decreased by 6.1% y/y, while sales of information and communication equipment decreased by 3.1%. Sales of other household equipment decreased by 2.9%, and food sales decreased by 2.4%. Sales of cosmetic and toilet articles increased by 5.9% y/y. Retail sales via internet and mail grew by 5.3%. Sales and repair of motor vehicles rose by 0.3% m/m and by 5.9% y/y. Analysts surveyed by the Czech Press Agency (CTK) say the dampened consumer situation in the country is slowly signalling an uptick, although an increase in retail sales is not expected until next year with lower inflation and growth of real...

 by Prague Morning Dec 07, 2023

Czech Hand-Made Glass Production Added to UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List

Czech glassmakers, celebrated for their craftsmanship with whistle, glass cutters, and engravers, have secured a remarkable success. The timeless art of handmade glass production, still practiced by numerous glassworks and studios across the Czech Republic, has been officially recognized and listed on the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List. The move was made at a UNESCO meeting currently taking place in Botswana. The nomination was a collaborative effort prepared by six countries, including Czechia, France, Finland, Germany, Hungary, and Spain. Milada Valečková, director of the Museum of Glass and Jewellery in Jablonec nad Nisou, emphasized, “This includes everything from the selection of glassmaking sand, the production of raw materials, to various techniques of manual glass processing, encompassing cutting, painting, and the crafting of winding beads.” With this success, the Czech Republic now boasts nine entries on the prestigious list of intangible cultural heritage. Among these are the Hlinecko region masopust (carnival), the slovácký verbuňk dance, falconry, the South Bohemian Ride of the Kings tradition, glass-blown Christmas beads from the Podkrkonoší region (added in 2020), and the most recent addition in the previous year—rafting. Valečková highlighted the pivotal role of Petr Nový, chief curator of the Jablonec Museum, for his knowledge and perseverance,...

 by Cara Stevenson Dec 06, 2023

Czech Mayor Under Investigation for Controversial Post on Palestinians

Prague’s police are investigating Řeporyje Mayor Pavel Novotný (ODS) for calling Palestinians “monkeys” on social media and suggesting their bombing. The now-deleted 100-word post on the X platform referenced a Jerusalem attack and came a day after Defense Minister Jana Černochová “liked” a similar post by Novotný, who has faced similar prosecutions in the past. While Novotný’s father is Jewish, the ODS spokesperson called such statements unacceptable. Legal experts say each alleged hate crime requires assessing freedom of expression limits and incident context. Incitement brings over two years of imprisonment under the Criminal Code. The mayor of Řeporyje wanted to run as an ODS candidate for the lower house in 2021, but his criminal record prevented him from doing so, according to the party’s bylaws. “I am on probation, which is about to expire. I am looking forward to trying to run for something again if I am off parole. In a little while I will be as clean as a lily,” Novotný told Seznam Zprávy. The Civic Democratic Party distanced itself from Novotný’s statements. “In the Civic Democratic Party we reject any manifestations of calls for violence and racism. Mayor Pavel Novotný has apologised for the inappropriate tweet,” Jakub...

 by Prague Morning Dec 05, 2023

Food Prices in Czech Supermarkets to Raise Despite Czech VAT Cut

From January 2024, the Czech Republic will witness a reduction in VAT on food products, dropping from the current 15% to 12%. Back in August, retailers assured the government that this decrease would be transparently reflected in final prices, bringing relief to shoppers. However, on Monday, December 4th, Tomáš Prouza, President of the Union of Trade and Tourism of the Czech Republic, revealed that there will be no reduction in food prices; instead, they are set to rise significantly in the new year. Prouza clarified, “We find ourselves compelled to raise prices. Producers have alerted us to a 10-15% increase in the cost of products. The decision by the Energy Regulatory Office of the Czech Republic will substantially escalate their electricity costs, and the government has declined assistance. A 3% VAT reduction won’t bridge this gap.” Disappointment marked the Minister of Agriculture’s response to the meeting. Vyborný expressed his disillusionment, stating, “Retail chain representatives assured me that the VAT reduction would genuinely impact food prices. Today, I am disheartened to hear that prices will surge from January 1st.” He pressed retail chain representatives at the meeting about the higher cost of products in Czech supermarkets compared to neighboring countries. Unfortunately,...

 by Cara McErlean Dec 05, 2023

Salvation Army Launches Annual Collection. How Can You Contribute?

The Salvation Army’s annual collection in aid of the needy, primarily single parents, elderly citizens and homeless people, starts on December 4.   How can you contribute? People can contribute to the cause by donating money to the organisation’s volunteers in the streets of Prague, Brno, Ostrava and other cities, as well as online. The collection will run until December 22. You can donate money through the Darujme.cz portal, by transferring it to an account, or physically on the streets of selected cities. The individuals collecting the money are referred to as “bell ringers”. You can contribute by placing your donation into the red kettle carried by the bell ringers. Who does the collection help? The funds will support initiatives for children, youth, families, and the elderly. For children, donations will primarily go towards organizing camps, clubs, or music and dance groups. For the elderly, money from the kettle collection will contribute to self-development and memory training clubs, reading clubs, as well as education in foreign languages, mobile literacy, and computer work. “The funds will also be utilized to assist the needy, individuals whom the Salvation Army Church will aid in challenging life situations and connect with social services. Last...

 by Prague Morning Dec 04, 2023

Starting October 1, 2024, Electric Cars Will No Longer be Able to Park in Prague for Free

Electric Cars Will No Longer be Able to Park in Prague for Free

 by Hena Takal Dec 04, 2023

GALLERY: Battle of Austerlitz Reenactment Draws Record Numbers of Participants

Thousands flocked to Santon Hill for the annual reenactment of the Battle of Austerlitz. Commemorated every year, this year’s edition is the largest since 2015, using 1200 history enthusiasts from 15 different countries. Over 10,000 spectators braved the cold and snow near the village of Tvarožná in the Brno region to watch the annual reenactment of the historic battle of Austerlitz. Also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, the nine-hour fight saw Napoleon’s army of 60,000 famously defeat the much stronger armies of Tsar Alexander I of Russia and Emperor Francis of Austria in 1805. For the locals, the recreation of one of Napoleon’s most famous and successful battles is not meant to celebrate the controversial figure – it is meant to commemorate and promote knowledge of a common European history, particularly in light of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year. An annual tradition coinciding with a controversial film This reenactment attracted many more spectators than usual, in part due to the release of the latest Ridley Scott film centered around the infamous Napoleon Bonaparte. The movie has been met with waves of negative reviews from French historians and film critics and some local Czech historians have joined them in expressing their reservations...

 by Prague Morning Dec 04, 2023

New Rules on Early Repayments of Mortgages From January

Did you know that you can break your mortgage fixation, sell your property, and refinance anytime, even if you fixed with the bank for three, five, or eight years or so? The bank must allow you to close the mortgage prematurely… for a cost. And there is a big change from January. Let us start from the beginning. What is fixation: When you take your mortgage for let’s say 20 or 30 years, the interest rate will not stay the same for the whole time. When taking out the mortgage, you choose a “fixation period”, which means that for the next X amount of years, the rate will be fixed at for example 5.39%, which is the best rate we can get today (end of November 2023). With this in mind, you might be tempted to go for a shorter fixation and hope the rates go down. But, if you can refinance anytime anyway, why not choose 10 years and simply break the fixation whenever it suits you? How much did it to break fixation? Depending on when you signed your mortgage or renewed your fixation period (which, for the sake of working out these costs, is considered a reset...

 by Robin Petrasek Dec 03, 2023

Heavy Snowfall is Causing Problems Around the Czech Republic

Heavy snowfall is causing problems around Czechia. Many smaller roads are impassable and a heightened number of accidents are complicating traffic along the country’s main highways. A state of emergency is in place in the South Bohemia region which had 75 centimeters of fresh snow overnight. Power outages have left thousands of people without heating. Train services were halted in various parts of the Czech Republic, mainly due to trees falling on tracks or switches breaking down. The South Bohemia region experienced most of the reported issues, affecting sections like Tábor – Pelhřimov and Ražice – České Budějovice. Snowfall also disrupted several fast train connections. The Vysočina region also reports severe complications and drivers have been advised not to set out for the mountain regions if possible. Although road maintenance workers are out in force, the situation is complicated by fresh snow which should continue falling throughout the day. Between 30 and 40 centimeters of fresh snow are expected to fall in southern Bohemia and Moravia, Prague should see between 15 and 30 centimeters of fresh snow on Saturday. A truck accident on D1 towards Brno caused a 20-kilometer traffic jam. Radek Mátl, director general of the Czech Roads and...

 by Cara McErlean Dec 02, 2023

Life Expectancy In Czechia Reaches Record Of 77 For Men, 83 For Women

Life expectancy in the Czech Republic could reach 77 years for men and 83 years for women this year, exceeding the pre-pandemic record from 2019, the Czech Statistical Office (CSU), told in a press conference. CSU published a projection of demographic development until 2101, predicting that life expectancy in the Czech Republic could be extended by almost 12.5 years for men and more than 9.5 years for women by the end of the century. According to the development of life expectancy, the retirement age for people in their fifties should be recalculated every year, as foreseen in the draft pension reform. The gradual increase in life expectancy in the Czech Republic was reversed during COVID-19, as mortality rates rose in the epidemic. While in 2019, life expectancy was 76.3 years for men and 82.1 for women, it dropped by 1 year for men and 0.7 for women in the first COVID year of 2020. The year before last, life expectancy fell to 74.1 years for men and 80.5 years for women. Last year, however, it started to increase again. The figure has thus returned to 2018 levels, but still has not matched pre-COVID highs. The projection assumes three scenarios: a...

 by Prague Morning Dec 01, 2023

The Czech Republic is on the Brink of an Epidemic

The Czech Republic is on the brink of an epidemic. Numbers of COVID, respiratory infections, and flu are rising. How to distinguish between them? As EuroZprávy.cz reported last week, the number of people with respiratory illnesses has increased by approximately 13 percent, while flu cases have risen by 125 percent. The Czech Republic’s Hygiene Service on the X network stated that the country is at the beginning of an unfavorable epidemiological situation. What are the most common respiratory diseases, and how can they be distinguished from each other? The number of people infected with COVID is also increasing. According to the Ministry of Health data, more than 2,800 cases of COVID-19 were recorded on Monday, the highest number in the last year and a half. The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients is almost 650, with 38 of them requiring intensive care. According to the chairman of the Czech Vaccinology Society Roman Chlíbek, the number of infected people is likely to be about four to five times higher than the number of those who tested positive. Health officials noted that the current values correspond to the seasonal period, and the number of flu cases has reached the threshold of the beginning...

 by Hena Takal Nov 30, 2023

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