The Czech Republic is reviving its push to protect traditional meat product names—this time, across the European Union. Agriculture Minister Marek Výborný (KDU-ČSL) has submitted a proposal supported by 18 EU member states, calling on the European Commission to restrict plant-based producers from using terms like “vegan sausage” or “soy schnitzel.” The move echoes existing rules around dairy alternatives, where terms like “milk” or “yogurt” are reserved exclusively for animal-based products. Supporters argue that consumers can be misled by familiar meat-related terms used on plant-based packaging. Critics, however, say the proposal reflects pressure from industrial meat lobbies—not a genuine concern for transparency. At a June meeting of EU agriculture ministers in Luxembourg, Deputy Minister Miroslav Skřivánek claimed such a policy would “protect consumers from misleading information” and reduce fragmented food labeling rules across Europe. Backing the Czech initiative are heavyweights France and Italy, as well as Ireland, Austria, Portugal, and Spain. In contrast, domestic reaction has been mixed. Just one week after the proposal was introduced, a coalition of Czech food producers, retailers, and associations issued an open letter urging Výborný to withdraw the proposal. Signatories included Globus, Rohlik.cz, the Czech Trade and Tourism Association, and the Association of Hotels...
New data from Eurostat reveals that the average Czech employee works 37.8 hours per week — nearly four hours more than workers in Germany or Austria. Over the course of a year, that adds up to 200 extra hours, or five additional full working weeks. Yet despite the longer hours, Czech wages remain far lower than those in neighboring countries. “Over a lifetime, a Czech worker puts in several more years of labor compared to someone in Germany,” said Jiří Vaňásek, Vice-Chair of the Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions. In fact, when those weekly differences are accumulated across a working life, the gap becomes hard to ignore: Czechs can expect to work around four years longer than Germans — and some union estimates suggest the gap may be even wider due to older baseline data and changing trends in working hours. Long Hours, Low Wages The average Czech working life spans about 38 years, though this can vary based on education. And the compensation doesn’t match the time invested. A 2024 report from Mazars shows the average private-sector monthly wage in the Czech Republic was CZK 46,557, compared to CZK 116,682 in Germany and CZK 126,125 in Austria (converted from...
Bulgaria is set to join the eurozone in January 2026, after meeting all the necessary criteria. The European Commission, European Central Bank, and EU finance ministers confirmed the country’s readiness in June. Bulgaria’s currency, the lev, has been pegged to the euro since 1999, so this move finalizes its long-standing monetary policy approach and gives the country full voting rights within the ECB Governing Council. However, public opinion in Bulgaria remains divided. Nearly half of the population opposes the euro, mainly due to concerns over price increases — similar to what Croatia experienced after switching to the euro in 2023 — and fears about losing national control over economic decisions. Czechia Maintains the Koruna – But Moves Closer to the Euro in Practice Unlike Bulgaria, the Czech Republic has taken no concrete steps toward joining the eurozone, despite being formally committed to adoption since entering the EU. Along with Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Sweden, Czechia has delayed entry indefinitely, citing political and economic concerns. Support for adopting the euro remains consistently low. In 2024, just 20% of Czechs supported euro adoption, while 80% were opposed. Around half of those were strongly against it. The main reasons include fear of rising...
The Czech government banned the use of any services of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek in the Czech public administration due to security concerns, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Wednesday. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said the government acted after receiving a warning from the national cybersecurity watchdog. The watchdog flagged a threat of unauthorised access to users’ data because DeepSeek is obliged to cooperate with Chinese state authorities. The move follows similar steps made by some other countries that aimed to protect users’ data, including Italy, which in January blocked access to the chatbot, as well as Australia. Last month, a German privacy official called on Apple and Google to ban DeepSeek from its app stores over privacy concerns. The Czech government has distanced itself from some Chinese technology in recent years. In 2018, it stopped using the hardware and software made by telecommunications companies Huawei and ZTE after a warning they posed a security threat. DeepSeek and the Chinese embassy in Prague did not immediately respond to requests for comment. DeepSeek shook the technology world in January with claims that it had developed an AI model to rival those from U.S. firms such as ChatGPT creator OpenAI at...
The full-scale war between Ukraine and Russia could continue for years if the current dynamics remain unchanged, Czech President Petr Pavel said in an interview with the BBC published on July 8. He noted that while Russian forces have managed to occupy parts of Ukrainian territory, it has come at a high cost in lives and equipment. “So far, Ukraine’s defense has been successful because it is inflicting significant damage on Russian forces,” Pavel said. “They are able to hold their positions, especially in key areas. And if the war continues this way, it could go on for years. This situation is unacceptable for everyone.” The Czech leader stressed that in addition to supporting Ukraine, it is vital to increase pressure on Russia and demonstrate that “there is no victory to be had on the battlefield.” On June 7, Pavel said that every effort must be made not only to end the war in Ukraine but also to ensure that the war does not spread to Czechia. The Czech Republic is the driving force behind an initiative to supply Ukraine with 1 million artillery shells sourced from third countries. In 2025, Ukraine is expected to receive up to 1.8 million...
With the general election approaching in October, Tomio Okamura’s Freedom and Direct Democracy party (SPD) is once again drawing attention — not with dramatic new proposals, but by quietly strengthening its position on the political map. Recent polling suggests SPD is holding steady between 13 and 17 percent. That might not be enough to lead the next government, but it’s more than enough to influence who does. And that possibility is making both Prime Minister Petr Fiala and opposition leader Andrej Babiš uneasy. Fiala’s centre-right Spolu coalition is battling flagging approval ratings. Babiš, despite leading most surveys, isn’t guaranteed a majority. If he falls short, he may have to consider working with Okamura — someone he’s previously dismissed as too radical for mainstream politics. But Okamura isn’t repeating the same slogans that made headlines in past campaigns. Instead, he’s adjusted his tone. The word “Czexit” has all but vanished from his speeches. In its place: calls for national referenda on EU membership and more direct public say in decisions involving Brussels. At a recent campaign stop in Ústí nad Labem, he told supporters, “We’re not talking about leaving Europe. We’re talking about returning power to the Czech people.” The message...
The European Union’s unemployment rate remained unchanged in May 2025, holding at 5.9 percent, according to seasonally adjusted data released by Eurostat. This marks no change from April’s figures, though compared to May last year, the rate dipped slightly by 0.1 percentage point. Among EU member states, Malta and the Czech Republic posted the lowest unemployment rates, at 2.7 and 2.8 percent respectively. Both countries saw a modest increase of 0.1 percentage point compared to the previous month. By contrast, Spain and Finland reported the highest unemployment levels within the bloc. Spain’s jobless rate reached 10.8 percent, while Finland followed with nine percent. Across the eurozone, which covers countries using the single currency, the situation slightly worsened. The unemployment rate climbed to 6.3 percent, up from 6.2 percent in April, but still better than 6.4 percent recorded in May 2024. In total, Eurostat estimates there were approximately 13.05 million unemployed people in the EU during May. Within the euro area, that figure stood at 10.83 million. Month-on-month, the number of jobless individuals in the EU rose by 48,000, with the eurozone contributing 54,000 to that increase. On a year-on-year basis, however, unemployment numbers declined by 23,000 in the EU and...
More than three decades after the Velvet Revolution, Václav Havel remains the most respected post-1989 president of the Czech Republic, according to a recent STEM/MARK survey. The research, conducted between May 14 and June 1, shows that Havel tops the list, followed by Václav Klaus in second place and current president Petr Pavel in third. The survey reveals that Czech citizens continue to value Havel’s humanitarian legacy, especially among respondents under 30. Younger people largely credit him for his defense of human rights and democratic values. In contrast, older and less formally educated voters are more likely to favor Miloš Zeman, who ranked fourth. The study highlights how education level, age, and socio-economic status strongly influence presidential preferences. “People without a high school diploma are more inclined toward Zeman, while Havel dominates among high school and university graduates,” the STEM/MARK agency stated. When looking at Václav Klaus, the second-ranked president, the survey found that he enjoys broad and consistent support across demographic groups, unlike the others whose approval varies significantly with age or education. Respondents praised Pavel’s communication style and public appearances, especially his regular visits to Czech regions and his defense of Czech interests abroad. The president also earned...
The Czech Republic has formally agreed to increase its defense budget to 5 percent of GDP, according to Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS). Speaking after Wednesday’s cabinet meeting, Fiala confirmed that the Czech delegation is authorized to finalize the commitment during the NATO leaders’ summit in The Hague. “At today’s meeting, we endorsed a mandate allowing us to support boosting defense expenditures to 5 percent of GDP,” Fiala announced, highlighting his confidence that the full NATO assembly would ratify the plan. At the summit, NATO members voiced support for increasing defense spending based on the proposal by North Atlantic Secretary General Mark Rutte. Under the plan, member states will raise combined military budgets from 2 percent to 5 percent of GDP by 2035—allocating 3.5 percent for direct military investment and 1.5 percent toward infrastructure enhancements. Leaders are also expected to reaffirm ongoing support for Ukraine, entering its third year of conflict with Russia. A meeting between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is slated to occur during the summit’s closing session. U.S. Reaffirms NATO Commitments Ahead of the summit, uncertainty grew over the former U.S. commander-in-chief’s stance on Article Five, NATO’s cornerstone defense clause. Trump, en route to the summit, questioned its...
The announcement of hefty infrastructure investment is a timely one, just months away from crucial parliamentary elections. The Czech government has approved a 65 billion CZK (€2.6 billion) loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to support the country’s transport infrastructure, with the bulk of the funds allocated to railway development. Transport Minister Martin Kupka (ODS) announced the decision following a cabinet meeting, calling the loan a cost-effective way to meet urgent investment needs. According to Kupka, 55 billion crowns will be used for railway projects across the country, while 10 billion will go toward the construction of a key section of the Prague Ring Road, known as segment 511. This section will link the D1 and D11 motorways and is currently under construction, with completion expected in 2027. “The Czech Republic needs the money to repay its infrastructure debt as quickly as possible,” Kupka said, adding that the EIB loan terms are favorable compared to other financing options. “For each tranche, the Ministry of Finance decides whether it can obtain cheaper financing or whether to opt for an EIB loan. Today, the government has assessed that this loan is currently the best choice.” While specific railway projects funded by...
The Czech government will dispatch a repatriation flight from Israel to Prague on Monday, following escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. The Foreign Ministry confirmed the mission in a statement on Sunday, citing growing security concerns after a series of Iranian missile strikes overnight left at least ten people dead. Commercial flights between Prague and Tel Aviv have been suspended since Friday due to the closure of Israeli airspace to civilian aircraft. By Sunday, all remaining direct connections were officially canceled for safety reasons. “Anyone wishing to board Monday’s repatriation flight must contact our embassy in Tel Aviv in advance,” the ministry stated via its official account on the X platform. The government also issued a strong warning against travel to Israel, Lebanon, and Jordan, advising Czech citizens to refrain from visiting the region altogether. Despite the current airspace shutdown, Czech authorities noted that overland departures from Israel are still possible. Travelers can exit via Jordan, through the Eilat–Aqaba and Allenby Bridge border crossings, or through Egypt via the Eilat–Taba checkpoint. The ministry emphasized that passengers should stay in close contact with their airlines and monitor flight updates closely. Additionally, the Foreign Ministry urged all Czech nationals abroad to register...
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the Czech Republic violated the rights of a non-binary person by requiring sterilisation as a precondition for legal gender recognition. The case was brought by T.H., a non-binary person who has spent over a decade fighting for the right to change their legal gender and personal identification number without being forced to undergo sterilisation. Czech authorities consistently rejected the request, citing national law, which still mandates surgical sterilisation for legal gender changes. In today’s judgment, the Strasbourg-based court declared that this requirement breaches Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees the right to private life. The Court emphasized that the Czech Republic must provide a clear legal framework that allows trans people to update their gender marker without invasive medical procedures. While the Czech Constitutional Court overturned the sterilisation mandate in 2024, it delayed the change until July 1, 2025, giving the government time to prepare a new law. However, no viable legislation has been passed. The issue now hangs on non-binding ministerial guidelines, which have yet to be published and could be easily reversed after elections later this year. T.H., the claimant in the case, welcomed...
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