News

Spotlight issue

4th September 2020 / Good governance / Legal Reform and Transparency


Compensation for unrealised service paid upon early contract termination subject to VAT?

The Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) held that the amount paid by customers upon early terminations of contracts should be considered part of the price for services and thus subject to VAT. The CJEU based its judgment primarily on the recent Serviços de Comunicações e Multimédia SA (C-295/17 MEO) case.

3rd September 2020 / Competitiveness / Tax & Finance


We are such a concierge in the world of insurance, says the Global Services Director of the largest insurance broker in the Czech Republic

From the Brno branch to the head of the team that takes care of the insurance of multinational clients around the world in less than seven years. Michal Holzer, the Global Services Director at RENOMIA, is a good example of the fact that if you have the talent and can succeed, your possibilities in this company are virtually limitless. Michal is a person who believes in the power of self-reflection, does not like routine procedures if they are no longer functional, is open to new things and is looking to work with people who want to develop further. He is not afraid to say that insurance is a sexy industry that will get you closer to almost every human field.

3rd September 2020 / Economic policy / Macroeconomic Indicators, Economic Growth


Czech Republic: Wages fell in the second quarter

Average wage growth in the second quarter slowed down to 0.5% year-on-year, while the median wage even fell slightly. In real terms after adjusting for inflation, average growth fell by 2.5%, the most in seven years, mainly due to coronavirus measures in the second quarter

2nd September 2020 / Economic policy / Macroeconomic Indicators, Economic Growth


According to a revised estimate, the economic downturn in 2Q was 11%

According to the CZSO's revised estimate, the domestic economy contracted 8.7% qoq in 2Q. Compared with last year, gross domestic product decreased 11.0%. The downturn in the Czech economy was thus slightly worse than the preliminary GDP estimate from the end of July showed. The revision of the development of the domestic economy took place in the opposite direction than in the case of Germany, whose quarter-on-quarter decline in GDP was ultimately four-tenths lower than the preliminary estimate showed. In an international comparison, the Czech Republic continues to be one of the countries whose economies were relatively affected the least by the coronavirus in 2Q.

2nd September 2020 / Competitiveness / Business and Industry


The great acceleration

The COVID-19 crisis has intensified existing trends, widening the gap between those at the top and bottom of the power curve of economic profit. Will your strategy keep you ahead of the accelerated pace of change?

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