Ondřej Plevák
REACT-EU to fund Czech healthcare instead of dressing rooms after criticism
After criticism from regional leaders, the Czech government overturned its decision to support local sports clubs with money from the REACT-EU emergency instrument. Instead, a large majority of the funds will go to the healthcare system, EURACTIV Czech Republic reports.
V4 countries ambiguous about giving up health competencies to the EU
in spring 2020, the four Visegrad countries criticised the EU for not providing member states with masks and other equipment when the coronavirus pandemic started. Now they are blaming Brussels for the slow vaccine roll-out. At the same time, they h
Drafting national recovery plans: A laborious exercise for Visegrad countries
The process of drafting national recovery plans under time pressure seems to be a handful for Visegrad countries. Frequent issues include a lack of stakeholder involvement, problems with streamlining different requests and ensuring transparency in the process.
Czech parliament backs food law obliging stores to prioritise local products
The Czech Republic is on its way to introduce a protectionist food law despite warnings that this could be in violation of the EU's free movement of goods.
Smart village is a remedy for outflow of people from rural areas
Modernisation and structural problems are some of the biggest challenges for rural areas across Europe, along with shrinking demographics, urban migration or digital transformation. Smart villages, an increasingly popular concept among EU members, are set to counter all those negative trends.
EU faces budget deadlock as national positions drift further away
The Commission's proposal for the EU's new long-term budget has been caught in the crossfire as net contributors criticise the idea of having to pay more while a number of southern and eastern member states have joined forces to oppose planned cuts in traditional policies.
Czech MEPs ‘all over the place’, except in S&D group
Czech voters have sent 21 MEPs to the European Parliament, including 11 new faces. The political fragmentation seen in the new EU assembly is also reflected in the Czech contingent of MEPs. EURACTIV.cz brings an overview of all the parties and representatives.
Transforming words into deeds – the Visegrad Group and Western Balkans’ EU integration
All Visegrad Group countries vocally support the enlargement of the EU and NATO, with a focus on integrating the Western Balkan (WB) countries. But how can those words be transformed into deeds?
Commission puts Czech PM’s old businesses under the microscope
Auditors from the European Commission are in the Czech Republic to take a closer look at EU subsidies for a holding of companies formerly owned by the current Czech prime minister, which might still constitute a conflict of interest. EURACTIV Czech Republic reports.
Czech MEP Niedermayer: Politics is more aggressive, social networks are to blame
The Czech attitude towards the eurozone is only a small part of a bigger problem called “searching for the right approach to the EU”, says Czech MEP Luděk Niedermayer (EPP).
The awkward squad: Czech-Polish cooperation on a different EU vision
Stay in the EU or leave? According to experts, for Poland and the Czech Republic, it is important to remain in the EU, despite widespread Euroscepticism in both countries.
Czech MEPs downplay V4 role in EU’s migration policy change
The EU is finally heading the way we are proposing in terms of migration policy, the Visegrád Group countries say. But two Czech MEPs point out that the V4’s contribution to the change may be limited and other factors should be considered as well.