About: Czech Republic
Incoming Czech EU presidency to focus on green buildings law
The EU’s building stock is responsible for about 40% of the EU’s total energy consumption and 36% of its greenhouse gas emissions. The revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) wants to tackle the issue for real.
EU ministers urge Hungary to sign up to planned Russian oil embargo
EU foreign ministers sought to publicly pressure Hungary on Monday (16 May) to lift its veto on a proposed oil embargo on Russia, with Lithuania saying the bloc was being "held hostage by one member state".
Europe turns into cocaine hub as multi-billion-euro market expands, EU says
Europe is increasingly becoming a hub for production and trans-shipment of cocaine to other regions of the world, in addition to being a major consumption market, EU agencies said on Friday, warning also about the expanding methamphetamine industry.
Media freedom to be focus of Czech EU Council presidency
Media freedom, particularly in Hungary and Poland, will be a key focus of the upcoming Czech European Council presidency, according to the country’s Minister for European Affairs.
Biden talks to central Europe leaders, pledges more ‘military capabilities’
US President Joe Biden promised central European NATO members "additional military capabilities" on Thursday (9 December) and pledged to involve them in decisions about the region, Lithuania's presidential advisor said.
Belgium, Czech Republic downgraded in civic freedoms report
Freedom of expression and peaceful protests are in dangerous decline even in "established democracies" in Europe, according to the 2021 edition of the annual CIVICUS Monitor index published on Wednesday (December 8).OpinionPromoted content
Life Terra takes root in the Czech Republic
As part of Life Terra’s ambitious plans for European forests and citizens, the foundation collaborates for the first time with a landowner in the Czech Republic. Their joint reforestation is also a research project supported by the Czech University of...
Czech president opens way to opposition government, feels fit to finish term
Czech President Miloš Zeman expects to appoint opposition leader Petr Fiala as the new prime minister, the president said in his first public remarks since the country's 8-9 October parliamentary election.
European Parliament delegation visits Taiwan
A European Parliament delegation arrived in Taiwan Wednesday (3 November), part of an effort to build closer ties with the island despite warnings from China.
Taiwan delegation irks China with eastern Europe tour
A Taiwanese government delegation is visiting three eastern EU members to the dismay of China, which is irritated by any signs of Taiwan acting as an independent country.
Taiwan foreign minister adds Slovakia to rare Europe trip
Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu will visit Slovakia next week on a rare trip to Europe that will also include a trip to the neighbouring Czech Republic and a virtual address to a forum in Rome, his ministry said.
Czechs want to know what’s wrong with their ill president
When Vaclav Havel nearly died of a ruptured intestine as Czech president in 1998, doctors provided daily updates on his condition.
Czech PM, named in Pandora probe, leads polls ahead of vote
A populist billionaire at odds with the European Union who featured in the Pandora Papers is the narrow favourite in Czech elections starting on Friday (8 October) that promise a tight result.
Czech far right sets ‘Czexit’ referendum law as price for post-vote talks
The far-right SPD party, which may play a role in forming a new Czech government next month, would demand the cabinet propose legislation that could lead to a referendum on leaving the European Union, party chief Tomio Okamura said.
Czech PM says ‘no place’ for Afghan refugees in Europe
There is no place for Afghan refugees in the European Union which should instead help them to stay in their homeland, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said on Tuesday (7 September).
EU ministers clear Irish and Czech recovery plans
EU finance ministers approved on Monday (6 September) the recovery plans submitted by Ireland and Czech Republic, meaning that the proposals sent by 18 member states since April to access the coronavirus fund have now been validated.
WHO sounds alarm over rising COVID deaths in Europe
The World Health Organisation warned Monday (30 August) that 236,000 more people could die from COVID in Europe by December, sounding the alarm over rising infections and stagnating vaccine rates across the continent. Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czechia, North Macedonia and Bulgaria are among the countries with the highest mortality.
Czech government opts for interim spymaster amid political row
The Czech government delayed appointing a new head of its BIS counterintelligence agency on Monday (9 August) in a move seen as allowing Prime Minister Andrej Babis to keep the country's president on his side going into an October election.
Half of Europeans vaccinated as Germany warns on rising virus cases
More than half of all European adults are now fully vaccinated, the EU said on Thursday (22 July), as countries across Europe and Asia battled fresh outbreaks blamed on the fast-spreading Delta variant.
Czech President Zeman calls transgender people ‘disgusting’
Czech President Miloš Zeman, commenting on a Hungarian law that bans LGBT material from schools, told a television interview on Sunday (27 June) that he finds transgender people "disgusting".
EU Commission joins Czechia in legal case over Polish coal mine
The European Commission has decided to join the Czech Republic in a bitter lawsuit against Poland over what plaintiffs say is an illegal extension of a license to operate the Turów coal mine near the Czech and German border.
Czechs forward Babiš case to new EU prosecutor’s office
A Czech prosecutor said Thursday (3 June) that the case of the billionaire prime minister's conflict of interest as an entrepreneur and politician has been forwarded to the new EU prosecutor's office.
Closing the Czech coal industry could cost 25,000 jobs
The Czech Republic is currently considering how best to use EU green funds to modernise its economy and secure just transition of its three coal mining regions. According to experts, the coal phase-out could result in the loss of 25,000 jobs, but investments in renewables can restore the balance.