News
Industry is growing, but missing components are putting on the brakes
Industrial production increased month-on-month, although missing components led to a further decline in car production. The decline in exports and the growth of imports unexpectedly dragged the foreign trade balance into a deficit in June. The construction industry stagnated month-on-month, and its production thus remained in solid growth year-on-year.
The latest Supreme Court decisions on business corporations
Anyone interested in business corporations should be aware of recent Supreme Court judgements in this area. The most relevant decisions (based on our selection) are set out below.
Czech Airlines resumes scheduled flights between Prague and Moscow on a daily basis
As from 6 September 2021, Czech Airlines resumes the daily operation of its Prague – Moscow – Prague scheduled service. The OK894/5 Prague – Moscow – Prague flight will depart from Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport (Terminal D) every day at 14:50 with arrival at Prague Vaclav Havel Airport (Terminal 1) at 16:35 local time. The departure from Prague is at 10:15 with arrival at Moscow at 14:00 local time every day. The flights are operated in partnership with Smartwings (flight number QS8894/5).
Senators demand higher IRR for most sources, including solar power plants.
On 18 August 2021, the Senate returned to the Chamber of Deputies a bill amending the Promoted Energy Sources Act, which, among other amendments, introduces a review of the return rate on investments into promoted energy sources ("Bill“).
The Senate has proposed a number of changes to the Bill, including the permitted IRR. According to senators, the IRR should be set for all sources within 8.4-10.6%, where the actual IRR for specific sources will be determined by the Cabinet. The IRR, however, will have to be within the above range, and consequently no energy source will be allowed to have the IRR set below 8.4%. It means that the IRR would be substantially increased in respect of hydro, wind, and, most importantly, solar power plants.
Kurzarbeit finally given green light after one year
In a draft amendment to the Act on Employment submitted at the end of August last year, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs introduced its long-awaited concept for the provision of support during partial unemployment, the kurzarbeit (short-time working) scheme, initially meant to be adopted into the Czech legal system from November 2020. Kurzarbeit was meant to replace the Antivirus programme as early as in autumn last year. Nonetheless, it took almost a year to put the kurzarbeit scheme through.
Strategic Directions for Czech Economic Policy
- Transition to High-Tech Manufacturing and Exports
- The City Campus as Idea Factory
- Government Programs and Processes That Drive Innovation
- Government as a Competitive Advantage, including Digitization
Advocacy Priorities for 2023
Technology, People, Infrastructure
Actions Recommended in Areas:
1. Establishing Policy Objectives for Research.
2. Research Investment and Cooperation. Big Bets (Key Technology Projects).
3. Establishing Databases for Tracking Public Policy Outcomes.
4. Public Procurement as an Innovation Tool.
5. Immigration of STEM Talents.
6. Digitization of Immigration.
7. Adult Reskilling and Upskilling.
8. Digitization of Land Use.
9. Infrastructure Development, including Technology Parks.
Read the documents in English and Czech.
Policy pipeline
In Policy Pipeline policy developments in the Czech Republic and abroad are monitored to bring better understanding of current topics and trends.