Politics & Economics

Czech Government Intends to Continue Supplying Weapons to Ukraine

The Czech government plans to continue supplying weapons to Ukraine after the decision to provide 4,000 artillery shells as European Truth reported citing Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský. “I don’t know exactly what form this will take yet, but our government has the political will to help Ukraine withstand this crisis. Part of this effort is aimed at changing the “loss calculations” for Putin so that he decides not to physically attack Ukraine,” the Czech minister said. According to him, there was no discussion in Czech society about whether to provide shells to Ukraine. “Of course, people may have different opinions, but there was no political debate at all about supplying weapons to Ukraine. So I’m glad that the Czech Republic has finally joined the club of states that help Ukraine in this way. As you mentioned, not all states do this. But our club is not bad – we are there together with the United States, Britain, Poland, the Baltic States,” the minister said. The diplomat added that the Czech Republic helps Ukraine because local events affect Central Europe. “Migration is changing, economic interaction – everything is changing. We are in a close neighborhood with you, so everything that happens in your country matters to...

by Cara McErlean Feb 11, 2022

Prosperity Index: Czech Republic is 9th Most Advanced Economy in EU

The Czech Republic is the ninth most advanced economy in the European Union. Sweden ranks first, followed by Germany and Denmark. This is according to the first pillar of the new Prosperity Index focused on the economy, compiled by analysts at Česká spořitelna and Europe in Data. The Czech Republic can achieve a better ranking by investing in changing the structure of the economy, innovation, and education. David Navrátil, the chief economist at Česká spořitelna, added that the Czech Republic’s strongest points include economic complexity (ranked 2nd) or the investment-to-GDP ratio (ranked 3rd). On the other hand, weaker results are in terms of the share of national income in domestic product or the level of value-added of the economy. A higher level of investment does not automatically mean a higher rate of modernisation of the economy, especially in comparison with other countries. This can be seen, for example, in the robotization of the Czech economy. The number of robots per worker in the Czech Republic is growing, but not enough. This is why the Czech Republic has fallen out of the top 20 most robotized economies in the world. Currently, Germany is the European leader in robotization with 371 robots...

by Prague Morning Feb 11, 2022

Czech Minister: Putin Gave Europe ‘Gift’ as Gas Crisis Showed Alternatives Exist

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments to Europe late last year showed Russia could not use gas as great leverage over Europe, and the gas shortfall supported efforts to build more LNG capacity on European shores, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said on Wednesday. Lipavsky told Reuters in an interview that diversion of LNG cargoes to Europe after prices surged late last year amid lower supplies from Russia showed there were alternatives to Russian gas and supported the argument for investing in infrastructure. “I like to say (Russian President) Vladimir Putin gave Europe a great Christmas gift because he showed that we are not dependent on Russian gas,” Lipavsky said. “I am not saying we can only be dependent on LNG, but this is a very good example that Russia cannot afford to use gas as some fundamental economic lever, because if Europe builds sufficient mechanisms, terminals, it will diversify its energy security.” The Czech Republic consumes around 8.7 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year, most of which comes from Russia through Germany. Lipavsky, whose ministry has a special envoy for energy security, said the Czech government aimed to gain access to an LNG terminal in some neighbouring country....

by Prague Morning Feb 10, 2022

10,000 Flats Were Built in Prague Last Year. Still Not Enough

Almost ten thousand flats were given the green light in Prague last year. And even though this does not make up for the shortage the capital is currently facing, this fact is still worth mentioning – it is a record. The reasons are various. Firstly, it is a reduction in the time taken to amend the zoning plan, but the coronavirus pandemic may also have played a role. “The reality has exceeded my expectations, with the construction of 9,698 flats in Prague starting in 2021, which, as far as I know, is the highest number in the history of the independent Czech Republic,” said Adam Zábranský (Pirates), the Czech Housing Councillor, on his Twitter account. Last year, 4,335 flats received building permits, which was a decrease compared to 2019 – when 6,487 flats were started, the most since 2008. The chart shows that it is only the fourth time since 1997 that the seven and a half thousand permits have been exceeded. Before last year, it was in 2005, 2006 and 2007. The city’s quicker approach in amending its zoning plan probably helped. “We were the first to drastically reduce the time it takes to address a project within the...

by Chloe H. Feb 07, 2022

Poland to Pay Czech Republic 45 Million Euros in Coal Mine Settlement

Poland and the Czech Republic on Thursday tamped down their dispute over the environmental impact of a coal mine close to the Czech border. The Polish government agreed to pay the Czech government 45 million euros in exchange for withdrawing a lawsuit brought by Prague against Warsaw at the Court of Justice of the European Union. Under the deal, 35 milion euros will be used to analyse and monitor the effects of the mine while the state-owned Polish energy group (PGE) will pay 10 milion euros directly to the affected region. The settlement also involves the building and testing of an underground wall to protect Czech villages from the effects of the mine. But local civil society and green groups slammed Prague’s acceptance of the deal, saying there was a risk it would not address all of the groundwater supply problems around the mine, at Turów. “It’s a shame that the Czech government is unprepared to stand firm on its citizens’ rights,” said Zala Primc from the environmental campaign group Europe Beyond Coal. Underlying the sensitivity of the issues around Turów is Poland’s continued dependence on coal. The mine operator, PGE, says the power station supplied by the mine provides...

by Prague Morning Feb 05, 2022

Czech Central Bank Again Increases Key Interest Rate

The Czech Republic’s central bank raised its key interest rate again in an effort to tackle soaring inflation. The hike of three-quarters of a point, to 4.5%, was the sixth straight increase since June, and analysts expected it. The bank, which considers high consumer prices a major threat, also had indicated it would raise the rate. It’s now at the highest level since January 2002. Fed by high energy prices, inflation jumped to 6.6% in November, well above the bank’s target of 2% target. The bank expected it will further grow at the beginning of the year. The bank’s decision comes after the Statistics Office estimated that the country’s economy grew by 3.3% last year, more than expected, after contracting by 5.8% the previous year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Czech bank’s stance contrasts sharply with that of the European Central Bank, which decided Thursday to leave its key economic stimulus programs in place and has said it likely won’t raise interest rates this year because it sees inflation as temporary. It thinks inflation will decline sharply this year and fall to 1.8% in 2023 and 2024. Also, the U.S. Federal Reserve has signaled it could begin a series...

by Prague Morning Feb 03, 2022

Czech Government Procrastinates Ratification of Istanbul Convention

The new Czech government led by conservative Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS, ECR) wants to delay the decision on the Istanbul Convention’s ratification despite increasing pressure from Brussels. As Deník N learnt, the ratification could damage relations in the five-party governing coalition. In November 2021, the European Parliament called on Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, and Bulgaria to immediately ratify the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, as they are the only EU countries that have not done it so far. In its official program statement, the new Czech government promised another approach to victims of sexual violence. “We will ensure better protection for victims of sexual and domestic violence,” the document reads. However, Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blažek (ODS, ECR) has asked for discussions about the Convention to be postponed for a year. Blažek explained this move with a need for further political debates on this issue. “In view of the new political composition of the Chamber of Deputies, he (Minister) has requested that the deadline for discussion be postponed until the end of January 2023. The government should deal with the task by that time,” the government spokesperson said. The Czech Republic signed the Convention in 2016...

by Prague Morning Feb 02, 2022

Cost of Living in Prague is Currently the Highest in Central and Eastern Europe

Who wouldn’t like to live in the Czech capital? Well not everyone can. Current data from the statistical portal Numbeo.com shows that Praguers have the highest cost of living of all 50 major cities in Central and Eastern Europe. They are mainly troubled by high housing costs and the highest food prices. By contrast, they can enjoy the largest purchasing power in the entire region. The third most expensive city in the region is Brno and the fourth Olomouc. Only the Slovak capital Bratislava came in second. The main problem of people looking for housing in Prague is the rising rents. According to the Numbeo portal, which has been monitoring and comparing statistical data in 237 European cities for a long time, renting a three-room apartment in the centre of Prague averages CZK 31,655 per month, while outside the centre tenants pay an average of CZK 23,091. This is 13.4 % more than in Bratislava city centre and 11.4 % more outside. The inhabitants of Prague will also pay for energy in the apartment which are 10% more than in the Slovak capital. However, it can rely on the highest average salary in the region, which according to Numbeo after-tax reaches almost 36,350 crowns. The...

by Prague Morning Jan 28, 2022

Former Czech President Slams Pandemic Law as an ‘Attack on Freedom’

Former Czech President Václav Klaus has sharply criticized the planned amendment to the pandemic law which the government is trying to enforce in the Chamber of Deputies, it has emerged. According to Klaus, the proposal is an “extraordinary attack by state power on freedom, democratic order, and constitutionally protected rights.” “A draft bill is being discussed in a shortened process, meaning in a regime of emergency legislation, which circumvents a proper public social and legal debate. It intends to enable the state to severely limit the constitutionally protected civil liberties by a decree of three ministers, under the threat of draconian sanctions,” the former president warned on Tuesday. The former president claimed the amendment allows ministries to establish a de facto state of war and cancel any cultural or social events without the approval of the government and parliament. The speed of the adoption of this law is alarming, Klaus claimed, as the government allegedly justifies the rush with the plausible threat of an autumn wave of Covid-19. The Chamber of Deputies wanted to discuss the amendment on Tuesday, however Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) vetoed the law. SPD chairman Tomio Okamura told reporters that the pandemic law was only a differently-named state...

by Prague Morning Jan 26, 2022

Former Czech PM Babiš to be Stripped of Immunity

The Immunity Committee has recommended the Czech parliament remove the parliamentary immunity of former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. As Euractiv reports, if the parliament follows the recommendation, which is very likely, Babiš will face prosecution over alleged EU subsidy fraud. A vote on the matter could take place next week. After defeat in October’s parliamentary election, Babiš became an ordinary MP but remained the leader of ANO (Renew), the strongest opposition party in the Czech parliament. It is expected that next year, Babiš will run for Czech president. While several ANO members have already expressed their support for Babiš in the presidential elections, Babiš has neither confirmed nor denied his candidacy. Babiš’s parliamentary immunity has been removed twice before, first in 2017 and then in 2018 after the parliamentary elections. The police have repeatedly recommended Babiš’s indictment. Babiš could be indicted for involvement in the so-called “Stork Nest” case. The Stork Nest Farm was originally part of Babiš’s former holding Agrofert, but for a few years, it changed its status and became a joint-stock company. It received a €2 million EU subsidy designed for small and medium-sized businesses during this period. After a couple of years, it was returned to...

by Prague Morning Jan 19, 2022

Czech Republic Registers EU’s Strongest House Price Growth in Q3 2021

In Q3 2021, the Czech Republic registered the strongest house price growth within the EU, both in a year-on-year (22%) and a quarter-on-quarter (7.3%) comparison, well above the EU average of 9.2% and 3.1%, respectively, according to Eurostat’s House price index. Among CEE countries, Hungary was the only other one that registered an annual growth rate higher than the EU average, whereas Slovakia was the only other one to record above-average quarterly growth. Long term increase continues Rents and house prices in the EU have continued their steady increase in Q3 2021, going up by 1.2% and 9.2% respectively, compared with Q3 2020. Between 2010 and Q2 2011, house prices and rents in the EU followed similar paths, but since Q2 2011, those paths have diverged significantly. While rents increased steadily throughout the period up to Q3 2021, house prices have fluctuated considerably. After a sharp decline between Q2 2011 and Q1 2013, house prices remained more or less stable between 2013 and 2014. Then, there was a rapid rise in early 2015, since when house prices have increased at a much faster pace than rents. Over the period 2010 until Q3 2021, rents increased by 16% and house prices...

by Prague Morning Jan 17, 2022

Czech Central Bank Sees Inflation at 9.6% in February

Czech inflation will jump to 9.2% in January and 9.6% in February as the expiration of a tax break and repricing by suppliers raises energy prices, adding to domestic price pressures, central bank analysts said on Monday. The Czech central bank has been the most aggressive in central Europe in responding to price spikes driven by international energy prices and logistics bottlenecks, but also domestic demand and economic recovery amid a very tight labour market. The bank raised its benchmark repo rate to 3.75% from 0.25% in mid-2021, and is expected to tighten further when the board meets on Feb. 3, in an attempt to convince the public that inflation will get back toward its 2% target by early next year. A large factor in the January inflation jump is the expiration of a two-month value-added tax break on energy which expired in December, Dana Hajkova and Radek Snobl wrote in a blog post on the bank’s website. “Together with the growth in heating prices and other items, regulated prices will jump in January, according to current estimates, from December’s -2.9% to 13%, which in itself will accelerate year-on-year inflation versus December by 2.2 percentage points,” they wrote. “In the...

by Prague Morning Jan 17, 2022

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