Politics & Economics

“If Ukraine Fails, So Will We”, Said Czech President Petr Pavel to MEPs

During his address at the European Parliament on Wednesday, October 4, Czech President Petr Pavel called for a dialogue with citizens, a fight against populism and a policy of no concessions to Putin. President Pavel stressed the importance of explaining Europe “to ensure that our citizens can genuinely identify with the principles we stand for”. Speaking of the European election campaign next year, he urged to refrain from “simplistic solutions and empty promises” and to communicate problems “as they really are” instead. Petr Pavel warned that if “Ukraine fails, so will we” and called “on everyone to continue providing support by all possible means”. Recalling that Czechoslovak territory was ceded to Hitler in the hope of appeasing him and avoiding war, he spoke strongly against offering concessions to Putin and called for “a settlement that safeguards the necessary conditions for Ukraine’s continued existence in lasting peace and prosperity”. Speaking in favour of enlarging the EU, he said that “it is in our interest that candidate countries succeed. Their success will be our own success”. On the Fit for 55 package, he stressed the need “to overcome the insecurities of our people about their future, especially the younger generation” and to...

 by Prague Morning Oct 05, 2023

“It’s Time Europe Reduced its Defense Reliance on the US”, Says Czech President

Europe should reduce its reliance on the U.S. and strengthen the European pillar of NATO instead, Czech President Petr Pavel said Tuesday. “The dominant role of NATO as a security provider must no longer mean that Europe neglects its defense obligations,” said Pavel, speaking at the opening ceremony of the new academic year at the College of Europe in Bruges. “Reducing the reliance on the U.S. and developing European strategic enablers is to be seen as our contribution to our transatlantic partnership. “Very likely, we will have to go beyond the 2 percent spending on defense,” he noted. NATO allies agreed at the Vilnius summit in July that the target, in the words of Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, should be treated as a floor instead of a ceiling. “We affirm that in many cases, expenditure beyond 2 percent of GDP will be needed,” the joint communiqué stated. Only about a third of the 31-strong alliance — including many Eastern allies — is meeting or close to meeting the target. In his speech, Pavel also supported enlargement, which “should not be postponed until some hypothetical point in the future, where the candidates are perfectly aligned with us,” and emphasized Western countries must...

 by Prague Morning Oct 03, 2023

Czech FM Calls to Start Ukraine’s EU Accession Talks in Autumn

EU accession negotiations with Ukraine should be opened in autumn 2023 or early next year, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský said at the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Kyiv on Monday. According to Lipavský, the meeting in Kyiv was not just symbolic but also included important discussions about practical solutions on what the EU can do to ensure peace in Europe. “It was clearly stated that if Ukraine is in the European Union, it will be a clear security guarantee because the European Union is also a peace project. However, it is true that Ukraine must change, and adapt its law to EU law. It is a long run,” Lipavský said, as quoted by the Czech News Agency. During the meeting in Kyiv, Lipavský emphasised that EU accession negotiations with Ukraine should be opened in the autumn or early next year. “This is a technical process during which it will be assessed how ready Ukraine is. It will be clear to see where it still needs to work,” the Czech minister noted, adding that it is in Europe’s interest that Ukraine is able to adopt all the necessary standards and adapt its legal system. Monday’s meeting in Kyiv represents the first time...

 by Prague Morning Oct 03, 2023

Slovakia Elections: Pro-Russia Party Wins Vote but Needs Allies for Coalition

Former Prime Minister Robert Fico’s leftist-populist Smer party won Saturday’s election in Slovakia after promising to stop sending weapons to Ukraine, to block Kyiv’s potential NATO membership and to oppose sanctions on Russia. With 98 percent of ballots counted in the country of 5.5 million people, Smer had 23.4 percent of the vote, ahead of the liberal, Western-oriented Progressive Slovakia by nearly seven percentage points and almost 200,000 votes. The election winner gets the first chance to form a majority in the 150-seat parliament. Fico’s campaign has raised alarm across the Continent amid fears that he will shift Slovakia to the anti-Ukraine camp alongside Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Fico has taken a very pro-Moscow stance, vowing to end arms deliveries to Kyiv and opposing sanctions even as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine continues after a year and a half. Despite Slovakia’s profound polarization, Fico is in a strong position to return to power with the support of Hlas (Voice), a social-democratic party that split from Smer. Hlas finished third with 15 percent in Saturday’s vote. Saturday’s ballot has been viewed as pivotal to Slovakia’s future, not only due to Fico’s vows to abandon aid to Ukraine, but...

 by Prague Morning Oct 01, 2023

Czech Government Pushes for Lithium Mining Despite Regional Scepticism

The Czech government is making every effort to facilitate lithium mining in the country as it is a strategic raw material for the recovery of the Czech economy, Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS, ECR) said on Wednesday while visiting potential mining areas. Geomet, a Czech company and member of the energy giant ČEZ, is preparing for deep lithium mining near Cínovec in the North-Western part of the country. This site boasts the largest lithium deposit in Europe, with production expected to commence between 2026 and 2028. Lithium is a critical component in producing car batteries, which play a vital role in the rapidly growing electric car industry. Fiala met with representatives from municipalities affected by the proposed mining site. According to the prime minister, local mayors recognise the importance of lithium mining for regional development. “What they want is for us to set the conditions and rules and the whole project in such a way that it takes into account the interests of the residents, citizens and the whole region,” Fiala said after the meeting. While many local mayors support the lithium mining plan, some have raised concerns, primarily due to a lack of detailed information about the project and...

 by Prague Morning Sep 21, 2023

Czechia Provided Ukraine With 45 Tonnes of Humanitarian Aid for Energy Sector

The Czech Republic has already provided Ukraine with 45 tonnes of humanitarian aid for the energy sector. This is said in a statement published on the website of the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine. Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Energy Yaroslav Demchenkov briefed the Czech representatives on the current situation in the Ukrainian energy sector, as well as the progress of repair and restoration works in preparation for the next heating season. “Ukraine has already received 12 cargoes of humanitarian aid from the Czech Republic, their total weight is about 45 tonnes, including current transformers, voltage transformers, passenger cars, and other equipment and supplies necessary for restoration work at the facilities that were subjected to Russian attacks,” the report says. Special attention was paid to deepening cooperation in the renewable and nuclear energy sectors. The Czech side confirmed its interest in implementing projects related to the restoration and development of the Ukrainian energy sector, including in the field of wind and solar energy. The meeting participants also discussed the development of a memorandum between the two countries, which would be a signal for business and private capital to participate in relevant joint projects. In addition, the meeting participants confirmed their mutual...

 by Shadia Oseni Sep 19, 2023

Czech Inflation Slows to 8.5% in August

Consumer prices increased by 8.5% year-on-year and by 0.2% month-on-month in August, the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO) reported. Czechia’s inflation remained the 9th highest in Europe, and local analysts expect the easing of inflation to continue only at a slower pace, prompting the Czech National Bank to take no action in its dovish interest rates policy at its upcoming September board meeting. August y-o-y inflation is 0.3 percentage points down on July, when inflation eased to 8.8% from 9.7% in June. CZSO highlighted that the m-o-m development came mainly due to higher prices in the transport section. “Fuel prices had the most significant influence on the development of consumer prices in August. They have already grown for three consecutive months,” Pavla Sediva of CZSO commented. Sediva added that “diesel was sold at petrol stations for around CZK37.40 per litre on average,” which is the highest value since January. Petrol Natural 95 price of CZK39.50 per litre is the highest since November of last year. In m-o-m terms, fuel prices and lubricants from personal transport equipment grew by 7.7%. Food and non-alcoholic beverages decrease in prices by 6.7% also contributed significantly to the m-o-m development, with potatoes down by 13.3%, eggs by 6.6%, and...

 by Shannon Stack Sep 13, 2023

Czech Republic Pledges Support for Ukraine’s 2024 Elections

The Czech Republic is ready to help Ukraine hold parliamentary and presidential elections in 2024 after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that they would need help from Western allies, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Daniel Drake. “The organization of elections in the conditions of Russia’s war aggression against Ukraine is governed by Ukrainian law and, however complicated it may be, we believe that it will be possible to organize them next year,” added Drake. “The Czech Republic is ready to support Ukraine in this regard, but the exact form of this assistance can only be discussed on the basis of a specific request from the Ukrainian side,” Drake said, adding that the country has not yet received any specific requests. Zelenskyy recently said that voting could take place during wartime, but Ukraine needs to change laws and get partners from the EU and NATO on board when it comes to sharing election costs. Czech Interior Minister Vít Rakušan confirmed the country’s readiness to provide help, adding that the requirements put forth by Ukraine will shape the specifics of Czech assistance. However, EU Commission spokesman Peter Stano said that Ukraine has not yet contacted the institution on the matter. “In general, the...

 by Prague Morning Sep 06, 2023

Babis’s Media Assets Sold Ahead of New Law

The media business controlled by Czech billionaire and opposition leader Andrej Babis is being sold to investor Karel Prazak, the two parties said on Friday, ahead of new legislation that bans politicians from owning some news and TV assets. Agrofert, controlled by Babis through trust funds, has agreed to sell its media businesses MAFRA and LONDA and a chemicals firm to Czech-based Prazak, the two sides said in a statement but did not disclose financial details. MAFRA and LONDA are major players in the Czech media with assets including national newspapers Mlada fronta Dnes and Lidove Noviny, as well as one of the largest radio stations, significant online businesses and print works. Opponents have frequently criticised Babis, prime minister from 2017-2021 and still leader of his ANO party, for using his media assets to his political advantage, which he has denied. Babis put Agrofert, a sprawling empire of media, chemicals, farming and food processing firms, into trust funds in 2017 to comply with conflict of interest rules at the time. Those rules have been further tightened under legislation approved by the current ruling centre-right majority and due to come into effect next January. The new law bans members of parliament...

 by Prague Morning Sep 02, 2023

Energy Company E.ON Will Lower the Gas Prices by 16%

E.ON energy company is set to provide gas discounts to all its existing customers without a fixed price starting from September. This move will impact around 140,000 clients. Their prices will decrease by 16 percent compared to the current rates and will drop by up to 25 percent in comparison to the government’s imposed price cap. Similar trends are observed with other energy suppliers in the Czech Republic, as they gradually reduce their energy prices. In response to the price hikes in wholesale exchanges, the Czech government established price limits for this year at CZK 5,000 per megawatt-hour (MWh) for electricity excluding VAT and CZK 2,500 per MWh for gas. While suppliers initially offered these prices at the beginning of the year, they started introducing new, more profitable products throughout the year as energy costs on the exchange decreased. For E.ON’s customers without fixed plans, starting September, the gas price will be CZK 2,321 per megawatt-hour (MWh) including VAT. This translates to savings of CZK 436 per MWh compared to current rates and a significant reduction of CZK 704 per MWh compared to the ongoing price caps. Radek Fišer, Head of Household Energy Sales and Proxy of E.ON Energie, noted...

 by Prague Morning Aug 31, 2023

Czech Republic Backs Zelenskyy’s 10-Point Peace Plan

Czechia fully supports the 10-point peace plan presented by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and is ready to help with its implementation, said Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský. Lipavský spoke about the Czech role in the plan’s enforcement on the occasion of Monday’s meeting of the Czech head of embassies. On the same day, he also met with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba in Prague. “We stand fully behind President Zelenskyy’s peace plan. It remains the only way out of the biggest war on European soil since the end of the Second World War,” Lipavský said. Zelenskyy outlined a 10-point peace plan last autumn. The plan envisages – among others – nuclear safety, protection food and energy security, restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and total withdrawal of Russian troops. Czechia will be actively involved particularly in the first point – nuclear and radiation safety. “Together with France, we have been selected as co-chairs of the first group on nuclear and radiation safety. This is an achievement, it is an appreciation of our role. It is also a responsibility that we must live up to,” Lipavský said. According to Lipavský, the fact that Czechia will co-chair the nuclear safety group is a...

 by Prague Morning Aug 29, 2023

“Czech Republic to Support Ukraine Until its Victory”, Says Minister of Foreign Affairs

The Czech Republic will support Ukraine on the path towards achieving peace which is possible only on Ukrainian terms and principles of international law. “A peaceful solution can be achieved only with the participation of Ukraine and according to its rules. The Czech Republic supports Ukraine’s 10-point peace plan. We also offered help in filling it,” Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jan Lipavský said at a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba in Prague. Lipavský assured his colleague that the Czech Republic would continue to support and provide assistance to Ukraine until its victory in the war unleashed by Russia. He emphasized that it is impossible to make any concessions, if this would mean a violation of international law, it is impossible to exchange peace for any part of the sovereign territory of Ukraine. “Our only defense against Russian imperialism is active support for Ukraine, support for its accession to NATO and the EU,” said the head of the Czech diplomacy, adding that Ukraine must fulfill the necessary conditions and carry out the necessary reforms to join the EU. The ministers discussed the situation in Ukraine, the possibilities of ending the war, and coordinated...

 by Prague Morning Aug 29, 2023

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