Angela Merkel, Germany’s longest-serving chancellor, will visit Prague for a rare public appearance and her first-ever live interview in the Czech Republic. She will speak with Czech journalist Tomáš Lindner about her memoir Freedom and reflect on the state of democracy in Germany and Europe. For sixteen years, Merkel led Europe’s most powerful country through an extraordinary period marked by financial crashes, the refugee crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine. Her newly released autobiography offers a behind-the-scenes look at how key decisions were made during her time in office — decisions that helped define modern Europe. In the book, Merkel also examines her East German upbringing and how life under communism shaped her worldview. In the Respekt-hosted interview, she is expected to expand on these themes and provide new insights into the complex realities of political leadership. The discussion will continue the narrative laid out in Freedom, now available in Czech thanks to Práh Publishing, which is also partnering on the event. Since its release, the Czech edition of Merkel’s memoir has gone into its third printing, underlining the strong interest in her legacy. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the venue. Event...
Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of U.S. President Donald Trump, is expected to visit the Czech Republic as part of a wider European tour. While Czech officials stress that the trip is private, the timing and destinations on his itinerary suggest a strong political undertone. Trump Jr. is scheduled to arrive in Romania on April 28, just days before a high-stakes presidential election repeat set for May 4. The election has drawn international attention following the Constitutional Court’s decision to annul the results of the previous first round held last November. That vote had seen far-right candidate Calin Georgescu unexpectedly lead, but newly declassified documents reportedly revealed Russian interference, prompting the court to cancel the results. The court’s move has sparked widespread backlash from across the populist and far-right political spectrum in Europe. Among those voicing strong opposition are U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk, and Trump Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more
Former Czech Member of Parliament Lubomír Volný has sparked significant controversy in Ostrava. In his hometown, he put up several billboards featuring a photograph of himself shaking hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The accompanying message reads: “Russia is not an enemy, Russia is an opportunity.” Volný shared the move on his Facebook page on Tuesday, April 8. In his post, Volný elaborated on his reasoning, stating, “Russia is not an enemy; it is an opportunity to solve energy poverty. It is a chance for peace, and Russia is ready to discuss disarmament initiatives.” These comments reflect his long-standing admiration for Putin, with whom he has publicly expressed support for in the past. Volný’s pro-Russian stance is no secret. He has openly approved of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on social media, even labeling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a “mass murderer.” In March 2022, the Czech police investigated his statements but found no evidence of criminal activity. The former MP has continued to share his views on social media, recently writing on X, “Europe needs more Putins and Orbáns, and fewer criminals like the EU and NATO.” His pro-Russian sympathies were also evident when he participated in a pro-Russian rally...
Unemployment in Prague rose to 3% in March 2025, up from 2.9% in February, according to newly released data from the Czech Labour Office. The capital was the only region in the country to record a month-on-month increase in unemployment. However, it continues to hold the lowest jobless rate in the Czech Republic. A year ago, in March 2024, the unemployment rate in Prague stood at 2.8%. Despite the current slight increase, the city’s labor market remains the strongest nationwide. At the end of March, a total of 30,009 people were registered as job seekers at Prague’s labor offices—643 more than the previous month. During the same period, the number of job openings rose by 1,618, reaching 23,480 vacancies. Since January, Czech labor offices have been removing listings for positions that remain unfilled for over six months. In March, there were approximately 1.3 job seekers per open position in the capital. “In a regional comparison, unemployment increased only in Prague, by 0.1 percentage point,” said a spokesperson for the Czech Labour Office. Out of the 30,000 unemployed in Prague, 27,261 were immediately available for work, classified as “reachable unemployed.” This group excludes individuals on sick leave, undergoing retraining, on maternity...
On Wednesday, April 9, the Czech government will discuss the annual assessment of the country’s readiness to adopt the single European currency. A decision on when — or whether — Czechia will join the eurozone remains off the table, as the governing coalition remains split on the issue. The cabinet’s programme statement does not commit to adopting the euro. Instead, it pledges to meet the Maastricht criteria — the EU’s convergence benchmarks for euro adoption. Last year, the country fulfilled four of the five: price stability, interest rates on long-term government bonds, deficit levels, and public debt. The only outstanding requirement is exchange rate stability, as Czechia is not yet part of ERM II, the EU’s exchange rate mechanism. Economists have advised that the country should only join ERM II once a date for adopting the euro is set, and for the shortest possible period. Although Czechia formally committed to joining the eurozone when it entered the EU in 2004, no deadline was ever established. The Ministry of Finance maintains that the decision on when to adopt the euro lies with each member state — but should depend on economic readiness, not just formal criteria. Alignment with the eurozone’s broader...
Global trade is bracing for disruption as U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to impose sweeping tariffs on a broad range of imported goods. Estimated at 20% to 25%, the tariffs could spark retaliatory measures and inflict economic losses reaching trillions of dollars worldwide. The Czech Republic is among the nations facing serious fallout. Trump has branded the tariff plan “Liberation Day,” arguing that the U.S. has been unfairly penalized by the current trade system. The new levies follow previous 25% tariffs on aluminum, steel, and cars. Trump defends the tariffs as a rightful response to what he sees as unfair trade practices, particularly by the European Union, which he claims imposes higher duties on U.S. products. He has also framed the move as a way to generate revenue to offset corporate tax cuts. In response, major economies, including the EU, are preparing countermeasures. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has stated that while Europe did not start the dispute, it is ready to respond forcefully. Possible EU retaliation could target U.S. tech services, such as Netflix, raising costs for European consumers while hitting American businesses. The EU is also considering measures to shield its steel and aluminum industries from...
The Czech Republic plans to invest 100 million euros in the renovation of 13 medical institutions in 7 regions of Ukraine under the Ukraine Facility program, Minister of Health Viktor Liashko said. “These are not just projects – real changes for patients. We are grateful to the Czech Republic for its willingness to support and help Ukraine on this important path,” the minister noted. Medical facilities in the country have also been affected by the ongoing war and targeted by Russian forces. Last week, the Ukrainian army reported that Russia had hit a military hospital in Kharkiv. The European Commission transferred 3.5 billion euros to Ukraine under the Ukraine Facility program yesterday (April 2nd). In addition, the European Union plans to continue financial support to the country at the expense of proceeds from frozen Russian assets. The hospitals receiving support include: Lviv Regional Hospital for War Veterans and Repressed Persons named after Yuriy Lypa – €35.27 million Rivne Regional Hospital for War Veterans – €18.9 million Volyn Regional Clinical Hospital – €4.31 million Kryvyi Rih City Hospital No. 5 – €16.57 million Dnipro City Clinical Hospital No. 16 – €14.93 million Kyiv Regional Children’s Hospital – €10.27 million Would you...
A new report by the energy think tank Ember finds that imports of Russian gas to the EU surged by 18% in 2024. Despite plans to phase out Russian energy by 2027, increased imports into Italy, the Czech Republic, and France drove the rise. Although demand did not grow, imports increased. Moreover, the EU plans to enhance its liquefied natural gas (LNG) import capacity by 54%, with member states seeking alternative gas suppliers. According to the think tank, this expansion occurs despite stable demand until 2030. Analysts warn that such expansion could result in overcapacity, with fossil gas supply expected to surpass demand by 26% in 2030. “This level of overinvestment, amounting to 131 billion cubic meters, matches the combined annual gas consumption of Germany, France, and Poland,” reads the press release. “It is a scandal that the EU is still importing Russian gas,” said Ember analyst Dr Pawel Czyzak. “Instead of investing in true alternatives like renewables and efficiency to cut off Russian imports, Member States are burning money with expensive LNG capacity that won’t even be used.” The analysis reveals that after years of price volatility driven by the war in Ukraine, gas prices surged by 59% in...
The gender pay gap in Czechia is growing, placing the country at the bottom of the EU rankings. In Czechia, the difference currently stands at 18%, meaning women work an additional 65 days to close the gap. After years of gradual improvement, the pay disparity has started increasing again, according to the Business & Professional Women CR (BPWCR) organization. The Equal Pay Day conference, scheduled for March 25-26, 2025, at the Clarion Congress Hotel Prague, will bring together experts, policymakers, and business leaders to explore solutions. Gender Pay Gap Worsens Despite Past Progress Between 2021 and 2022, Czechia’s gender pay gap reached a historic low of 15%, thanks to measures like raising the minimum wage and adjusting salary scales in undervalued sectors such as education and healthcare, where women make up the majority of the workforce. However, these were one-time interventions rather than systemic changes, leading to a reversal of progress. The largest pay disparities are found in management roles, specialist positions, medical professions, and university lecturing, where men continue to earn significantly more than their female counterparts. Czechia at the Bottom of EU Rankings With an average EU gender pay gap of 13%, Czechia ranks among the worst-performing countries....
Czechia is prepared to take part in negotiations on the possible deployment of military forces in Ukraine. If such forces are established, the country may join them, President Petr Pavel said. “There was a meeting at the level of chiefs of staff in London. Its main purpose was to discuss the modalities of a potential military presence in Ukraine. And the Czech Republic is ready to be part of these negotiations. And if there is a final decision to create such forces, I truly believe that the Czech Republic will become part of them,” Pavel said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. However, according to the Czech president, it is very difficult to determine the mandate of military contingents before the start of negotiations. “Therefore, first we need to have an agreement on military presence, then we need to discuss the mandate, mission, and its structure, composition,” Pavel explained. Pavel reaffirmed his country’s unwavering support Saturday for Ukraine as he visited Kyiv, emphasizing continued military assistance, humanitarian aid, and long-term cooperation. “I am proud of the Czech support for Ukraine,” Pavel said in a statement on X, noting that his country has been supplying medical supplies,...
The U.S. government has decided to end funding for Prague-based Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) as part of President Donald Trump’s broader effort to reduce the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) to its legal minimum. The move, announced on Friday, also affects the operations of Voice of America (VOA), with many employees placed on administrative suspension. According to an executive order issued by Trump, several agencies, including USAGM, must limit their activities “to the greatest extent permitted by applicable law.” The directive states that these organizations should function only as required by law, citing the need to reduce federal bureaucracy. Reuters reported that it had reviewed internal USAGM letters confirming the termination of funding for RFE/RL, which provides news coverage in Eastern Europe, and Radio Free Asia, which primarily targets China and North Korea. RFE/RL confirmed the decision, with its chief, Stephen Capus, calling the move “a huge gift to America’s enemies.” “Up to fifty million listeners in closed societies who rely on us for accurate news and information will lose access to independent reporting,” Capus said. “The closure of RFE/RL after 75 years would be welcomed by autocrats in Moscow and Minsk.” Meanwhile, The New York Times...
Czechia has successfully launched the 2021-2027 European funding period, with 13% of the available funds already reimbursed—far exceeding the European average of 7.5%. By the end of 2024, more than half of the allocated funds had already been contractually secured. This means that beneficiaries—businesses, municipalities, and institutions—have committed to using these resources for specific projects aimed at economic growth, sustainability, and innovation. Environmental Protection EU funds have played a crucial role in reducing air pollution, improving water purification, and promoting energy efficiency, leading to a better quality of life for residents. Key achievements (2014–2020): The percentage of people living in areas with high air pollution dropped from 26.5% to just 1.4%. Annual energy consumption fell by 3.2 million GJ, equivalent to 3.5% of Czechia’s total heat consumption. Composting increased by 70%, preventing over 305,000 tons of waste from ending up in landfills. More than 88,800 households replaced solid fuel boilers with environmentally friendly alternatives. Modernizing Transport Infrastructure EU funds have helped expand and modernize roads, highways, and railways, making travel faster and safer across the country. Key achievements (2014–2020): 357 km of new roads and highways were constructed, while 1,500 km were reconstructed. One in four municipalities improved connections to...
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