News

Spotlight issue

19th January 2021 / Good governance / Legal Reform and Transparency


EUR272.5m in fines imposed by European regulators under GDPR - Survey by international law firm DLA Piper

  • EUR158.5 million of fines imposed since 28 January 2020, a 39% increase on the previous 20 month period since the application of GDPR
  • Double digit growth for breach notifications for the second year running with 121,165 breaches notified since 28 January 2020 compared to 101,403 breaches notified in the previous year – a 19% increase
  • Per capita Denmark tops the rankings for data breach notifications
  • Italy has imposed the highest aggregate fines with France imposing the highest individual fine to date
  • Regulators have not had everything their own way this year with several multi-million euro fines being successfully appealed or significantly reduced

 

15th January 2021 / Competitiveness / Energy and Environment


Pathways to decarbonize the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic has reduced GHG emissions significantly after 1990 but remains the fourth largest GHG emitter per capita in the EU. This report aims at presenting a cost-effective pathway for the Czech Republic to reduce GHG emissions in line with the expected targets of the European Green Deal, including the investments needed.

14th January 2021 / Competitiveness / Employment and Social Affairs


Old/new programmes to support employers at the time of the pandemic

At the turn of December and January, the government approved a series of compensatory measures with a total value of CZK 10 billion. Some compensatory measures are brand new; other represent only extensions of existing ones. Below we summarise those intended to help employers preserve jobs.

14th January 2021 / Economic policy / Macroeconomic Indicators, Economic Growth


Czech retail sales were hit hard by the closure of shops

The closure of shops brought a significant drop in November retail sales. Sales in clothing and footwear stores decreased 78% year-on-year. However, the food segment did not escape the declines, either, and car sales also fell sharply. The easing of restrictive measures in December gives hope that the December figure could turn out better.

14th January 2021 / Economic policy / Macroeconomic Indicators, Economic Growth


Czech Republic: December inflation lower

Czech inflation slowed down more than expected in December to 2.3% year-on-year amid lower prices of food. November sales in retail and services were impacted by the lockdown, though less than in April

Strategic Directions for Czech Economic Policy

  1. Transition to High-Tech Manufacturing and Exports
  2. The City Campus as Idea Factory
  3. Government Programs and Processes That Drive Innovation
  4. 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.

Members of the American Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic