The Czech Republic is facing the biggest turning point in its modern history as it has exhausted all previous growth drivers, lost its competitive advantages and fallen into the so-called middle-income trap, a new study has found. The study on Czech competitiveness was conducted by the Czech Chamber of Commerce. According to its findings, the country could face long-term economic stagnation and a slowdown in wage growth and living standards. Further convergence with the level of more advanced European countries will be complicated given the current structure of the economy, the study also found. “If the economy continues to converge and reach the level of Western countries, it will have to escape the middle-income trap, i.e. move towards higher value-added production. In such a situation, it is possible to remain competitive even with relatively more expensive labour,” said Chamber of Commerce President Zdeněk Zajíček. However, according to experts, the problem with the Czech economy today is that it generates only low-added value. Compared to other EU countries, the value added generated is one of the lowest in the EU, with the Czech Republic ranking 24th out of 27 countries. The economy has not yet escaped the middle-income trap, failing to...
The Lobeč brewery is one of 30 heritage projects to receive the European Heritage / Europa Nostra Award this year. For Czech architect Pavel Prouza, restoring a run-down building with historic value was a childhood dream nurtured during family tours of old monuments. Next month, he will receive a major European heritage award in Venice for having renovated a sprawling derelict brewery on the brink of total destruction. The Renaissance-era site in Lobeč, a village north of Prague, is now producing beer again after architect and his wife sank all their money into the high-risk investment. With an annual output of almost 100,000 litres of beer, the brewery looks set to thrive in the country known for its love of the tipple. Several hundred years old, the brewery produced over a million litres of beer a year during its heyday in the early 20th century. It flourished until World War II but was nationalised when the Communists took power and turned into a produce warehouse, tractor garage, workshops and flats. Falling into disrepair, the site changed hands several times post-communism, its owners using it for construction material. Squatters finished the job, burning up the floor planks and treating some...
The Czech Supreme Administrative Court (NSS) has rejected an appeal from a pre-op transgender person who claimed that the requirement for them to undergo surgery to change from a woman to a man before they can officially change their gender was unconstitutional. The appellant was born as a woman but now identifies as a man. They wanted official recognition of their amended gender status but the Czech registry office refused to comply with the request for an official change of gender, including the entry of a male name and a male version of the birth number, because the appellant had not undergone a surgical procedure associated with the disabling of reproductive function, as required by law. The decision, in which the NSS emphasized the importance of protecting the basic natural attributes of family and parenthood, is temporarily binding on the official board. The Constitutional Court recently decided on a similar case with the same result. According to the NSS, the applicant’s hope that the new composition of the Constitutional Court will rule in his favor was curious. The applicant, whom the court refers to as male according to his wishes, claimed that the conditionality of gender change by carrying out...
Fifty-five years ago on 21 August, Milan Linhart reached for his camera as Soviet tanks rolled into the streets of Czechoslovakia’s capital.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to visit the Czech Republic in October for a collaborative government meeting. The meeting will mark a renewed effort in discussions between the two nations. The news was confirmed by Seznam Zprávy, following a briefing from Veronika Kuchyňová Šmigolová, the incoming Czech ambassador to Israel. Netanyahu will visit Prague on October 9th. However, any unforeseen global or domestic circumstances could potentially lead to a change in this schedule. Netanyahu is currently grappling with pressure concerning contentious judicial reform and has also faced scrutiny regarding his selection of coalition partners and ministers. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Interior Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, both representing ultra-nationalist parties, will not take part to the trip. “The finance minister will not attend the meeting as there are no pertinent topics for discussion with him,” said the incoming Czech ambassador to Israel, Veronika Kuchyňová Šmigolová. She further highlighted the diverse range of subjects on the agenda, encompassing defense, science, research, innovation, education, and transport. Czechia is probably the most enthusiastic supporter of Israel in the EU and have long tried to protect Israel in votes at the UN. For example, when former US president Donald Trump moved...
The Transport Company of the Capital City of Prague has awarded the production contract for two new cars for the Petřín cableway to DOPPELMAYR lanové dráhy, a subsidiary of the Austrian-Swiss Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group. The contract was officially signed today, August 17, with Doppelmayr’s winning bid of CZK 137.7 million, undercutting the estimated contract value by CZK 12.3 million. The competition for the contract involved two bidders, with the Italian company LEITNER S.p.A./AG as the runner-up. The manufacture of the new vehicles is slated to take 11 months, preceded by a comprehensive design study and production documentation phase. Both carriages for the Petřín cable car will be fabricated in Switzerland, involving various entities within the Doppelmayr/Garaventa group. The actual manufacturing will be carried out by sister company CWA Constructions SA in Olten, specializing in cable car cabin design and production, with an annual output of over 2,000 cars. Meanwhile, cableway control and management systems will be developed by Frey AG Stan in Oberdorf, and rope production will be undertaken by Swiss company FATZER AG from the BRUGG Group. The carriages, tailor-made for Prague, will undergo further detailing during project preparation to determine passenger capacity and vehicle weight. Technical Specs of...
Bringing fresh fish to a country renowned for pork and beef, Seafood Prague aims to combine a traditional fish market with a dining experience where you “eat what you see”. The trendy Vinohradská restaurant was once a simple fish shop, before part-owner Jan Brodecký and his business partner Martin took it over last year and “really developed the concept”. Renovating the location and creating a “portfolio of products to offer customers”, Seafood Prague now sells a variety of local freshwater Czech and ocean fish, seafood including calamari, octopus and mussels, as well as a selection of natural wines that have been paired with the food on offer. Speaking to Prague Morning, Brodecký said his desire to open a seafood market and restaurant came from his time spent living abroad. “I fell in love [with seafood] even more when I lived in Australia,” he said. “There they have these products on every corner.” When he returned to the Czech Republic, he got talking with his business partner while sharing some oysters and decided to try to “create something of my own” in Prague. “I liked the style of something that is still new for the Czech market,” he said. “It’s not...
Don’t buy postcards, see the places yourself! Here are the most beautiful views of nature in the Czech Republic. Beautiful Views in Bohemia Na Vrchovnici The green tourist mark from the town Blažim will lead you to what’s probably the most beautiful view on the river Vltava, specifically its water reservoir Slapská přehrada. Visualizza questo post su Instagram Un post condiviso da marketa (@plichtovam) Pančavy Waterfall The 148-meter-long Pančavy Waterfall near Špindlerům Mlýn offers a breathtaking view. Visualizza questo post su Instagram Un post condiviso da Kam na výlet? (@kamnavylet.cz) Ořešník The rock Ořešník rises over the north-Bohemian town Hejnice. You can reach the vantage point walking up the stone stairs carved in the rock. Visualizza questo post su Instagram Un post condiviso da Region Liberec (@regionliberec) Baba Baba is a natural monument near the village Purkanec and close to Hluboká nad Vltavou with its Sleeping Beauty castle. Visualizza questo post su Instagram Un post condiviso da Budějčanda ♥️ České Budějovice (@budejcanda) Na Vraném There are several vantage points to enjoy beautiful views of the meanders of the Vltava river. One of them is the vantage point Na Vraném near the village Solenice, from which you...
Starting in early August, a tram is operating across Prague’s streets covered with messages promoting Christianity. The goal of the project is to help passengers become more familiar with faith and the Gospel. The funding for this effort came from church donations and cost around CZK 1 million. Passengers will see signs like “Feeling stressed? Get to know the King of Peace” “Want love? Love is searching for you” or “Need a miracle? Meet the God of Miracles.” Josef Bajzík, the person behind the project, explains, “We want to share the Gospel in new, modern ways. We’re saying that Jesus has the answers, and God brings peace and love.” However, not everyone is excited about the idea. Some people on social media and even some church members have criticized the tram. Pastor Karel Berka, for example, says, “I see this tram going through náměstí Míru. I respect it, but I don’t like how it’s forcing itself on people. I think these things need to be handled carefully.” However, the Prague Transport Company views this form of advertising as acceptable, with DPP spokesperson Aneta Rehkova stating, “Upon investigation, we have determined that it adheres to the established regulations.” So, this tram,...
In a significant move, Prague City Councillors allocated CZK 8.5 million towards supporting an array of initiatives within the city. The primary objective of these projects is to facilitate the seamless integration of Ukrainian children who sought refuge in the Czech Republic following the Russian invasion. The approved funding is earmarked for a variety of purposes, including the facilitation of adaptation and integration endeavors led by the Nusle Ukrainian Center. Additionally, a portion of the funds will be directed towards a range of nonprofit causes, spanning music workshops, activities organized by children’s and youth homes, as well as the production of subtitles for theatrical performances. Among the commendable initiatives receiving financial backing is the Pražský majdan, z.s., project. This project, with a subsidy of approximately CZK 3.15 million, is dedicated to aiding Ukrainian refugees at the Nusle Ukrainian center. This center offers an array different services, including an informative hub, healthcare consultations, housing and employment advice, distribution of humanitarian aid, Czech language courses, and personalized psychological counseling. A sum exceeding CZK 1.3 million will be dedicated to diverse cultural activities. Divadlo na Zábradlí will produce theatre courses and Ukrainian subtitles for performances. The Prague Symphony Orchestra plans interactive music workshops...
The Czech government approved on Wednesday a bill allowing the taxation of large multinational companies which tend to book their profits in countries with a lower tax burden. The bill affects firms whose annual revenues exceeded 750 million euros in at least two of the past four years. The aim is for multinationals to pay a profit tax of at least 15%. “We will join countries that refuse to allow corporate profits to be diverted into tax havens,” Finance Minister Zbynek Stanjura said during a televised press conference. The bill has to be approved by the parliament and signed by the president to become a law. It is based on a European Union directive approved last December as a part of an OECD/G20 initiative to face the digitalization of the economy. The Finance Ministry expects the new tax raise the annual state budget revenues by 4-6 billion crowns. The opposition ANO party has said it will support the bill, but is against a fast-track procedure, saying it wants time to table proposed amendments to the bill.
The Czech Republic on Wednesday completed the ratification of a defense treaty with the United States that deepens military cooperation and makes it easier to deploy U.S. troops in Czech territory. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s signature was the final step in the ratification process of the Defense Cooperation Agreement, which had been endorsed by both houses of Parliament in July and by President Petr Pavel on Aug 1. The document sets a legal framework for possible deployment of U.S. troops in the country at a time of Russian aggression against Ukraine. Czech Defense Minister Jana Cernochova signed the treaty together with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Washington, D.C. on May 23. The U.S. has similar agreements with 24 other NATO members, including Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Romania and Bulgaria that form the eastern flank of the alliance. Any deployment of U.S. forces would still need approval by the Czech government and Parliament.
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