About: Czech Republic
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.
Poland, Czechia fail to mend divisions over Turow coal mine
The leaders of Poland and the Czech Republic met on Monday (24 May) to discuss solutions to the dispute around the Turów open-pit mine in Poland, which could see the Czechs drop the ongoing lawsuit in the EU's Court of Justice.
Poland will not comply with EU top court ruling on Turow, PM says
Poland will not comply with the ruling of the European Union's top court, which ordered Warsaw to immediately stop mining in the Turów lignite mine on the border with the Czech Republic, Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Monday (24 May).
Thirsty Czechs return to beer gardens as COVID rules relaxed
The world's thirstiest beer drinkers finally clinked their pilsner mugs in the drizzle on Monday (17 May), as beer gardens opened despite unseasonably cold grey weather in the Czech Republic, a landmark event after five months of COVID-19 lockdown.
A tale of three countries: how Czechia, Germany, and Poland plan to ditch coal
For decades, Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic have been at the heart of Europe's so-called "lignite triangle" which produces most of the continent's coal-based electricity. But with climate change now a top political priority, the priority is shifting to renewables.
Poland’s energy transition
Poland's coal dependence has propelled the country at the forefront of European Union efforts to decarbonise energy production, the largest source of emissions. With climate change now a top political priority, Warsaw is coming under growing pressure to close remaining coal mines and power stations.
Poland prolongs Turow mine life despite international outcry
Poland's climate ministry has extended a mining concession for the open-pit coal mine in Turów until 2044, outraging environmental campaigners, who said the move would worsen the climate crisis.
The EU/UK trade deal and Czech PM slams EU auditors as ‘mafia’
This week on EURACTIV’s Yellow Room, we are talking about the ratification of the EU’s post-Brexit trade agreement with the UK. At last, we may be seeing the turning of the page on economic and diplomatic relations between the...
Russia expels seven EU diplomats over ‘solidarity’ with Czechs
Moscow on Wednesday (28 April) expelled seven European diplomats after their countries ordered Russian diplomats to leave in solidarity with the Czech Republic, which is engulfed in a diplomatic row with Russia.
Bellingcat connects the dots between Czech explosion and Bulgaria poisoning
Vladimir Putin dismissed as "absurd" Prague's accusations against Moscow after Czech authorities accused the Russian secret services of being behind a deadly arms depot blast in 2014. But the investigative website Bellingcat connected the dots back to Russia.
‘Contemptuous approach’: Czech farmers group quits EU association
The Czech farmers group APF CR has left the EU agricultural organisation COPA, accusing it of showing a “contemptuous approach" and lacking support for small farmers, an accusation refuted by other Czech farmers' groups.
Romania to expel Russian diplomat in solidarity with Prague
Romania said Monday (26 April) it will expel a Russian diplomat, the latest European country to do so in solidarity with the Czech Republic, which is involved in a spat with Moscow.
Small EU countries had more COVID-related deaths per million since pandemic started
While the EU's most populous countries are recording the most overall COVID-19-related deaths since the start of the pandemic, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Bulgaria had the highest number of COVID-19-related deaths in relation to their populations during the same period. EURACTIV France reports.
Czechs order Russia to pull out most embassy staff in worsening spy row
The Czech Republic on Thursday (22 April) ordered Russia to remove most of its remaining diplomatic staff from Prague in an escalation of the worst dispute between the two countries in decades.
Czechs urge allies to expel Russian intelligence officers in act of solidarity
The Czech Republic will ask European Union and NATO allies to take action in solidarity with Prague in its row with Moscow, including expelling Russian intelligence officers from their countries, acting Foreign Minister Jan Hamáček said on Tuesday (20 April).
Czechs say Russian retaliation stronger than expected, seeks EU solidarity
The Czech Republic said on Monday (19 April) Russia's eviction of 20 Czech embassy employees in response to Prague's expulsion of 18 Russian staff was a stronger than expected reaction and the government would consider further steps.
Czech lawmakers reject quotas on domestic goods in supermarkets to avert EU clash
Czech lawmakers rejected plans to require supermarkets to sell mainly domestically produced food on Tuesday (13 April), removing the measure from a bill on food quality to avoid clashes with the European Commission over EU single market rules.
EU countries squabble over 10 million extra doses of Pfizer vaccine
EU nations fell out Thursday (1 April) over how to divide up 10 million extra doses of coronavirus vaccine, with Austria, Slovenia and the Czech Republic refusing to help five struggling countries.
‘It’s hard, we’re neighbours’: the coalmine polluting friendships on Poland’s borders
Czechs and Germans who live in the shadow of the vast Turów mine claim it is an environmental menace. Some in Poland want to weaponise its defence. EURACTIV’s media partner, The Guardian, reports.