Let’s use Cohesion Funds wisely!
Czech Ministry of Regional Development has been
discussing the future strategic direction of the European
subsidies with stakeholders for over a year.
By the
end of August, the Czech government approved
comprehensive Czech Strategy setting out five cohesion
policy priorities - increasing competitiveness, core
infrastructure development, enhancing performance of
institutions, promoting social inclusion and sustainable
development of regions. The main aim was to use
European funds also for the implementation of
national strategic documents such as the International
Competitiveness Strategy of the CR.
In October 2011,
the European Commission adopted “cohesion package”
for the period 2014-2020. “Member States and the Commission have to
discuss thoroughly the flexibility in allocation of
money within each fund and ensure the maximum
added value of investments. Europe’s strength lies
in diversity and not in one-size-fits-all solution,”
said Daniel Braun, Deputy Minister for Regional
Development at CEBRE´s debate in Prague in
December 2011.
Oldřich Vlasák, Member of the
European Parliament´s Committee for Regional
Development, urged for searching the best
solution in the CR: “Use of funds needs to be
simplified and number of operational programmes
reduced”. Secretary of the Vice-president of
the Confederation of Industry of the CR Jakub
Vít from Arcelor Mittal Ostrava stressed that the
Czech Republic was an industrial country with a
significant » read more «
The year ahead brings more fear than confidence!
The current situation in the eurozone shows the real risk of serious economic problems for the Czech
Republic in the year to come.
Long-lasting discussions about the solution for the eurozone debt crisis,
instability of financial institutions and constant changes in economic situation result in increased fear of
Czech businesses.
Forecast for 2012 economy is unfavourable and for this reason Czech companies
are getting ready for further worsening of the situation. They decrease investment, » read more «
EESC Corner: Civil Society Forum of Eastern Partnership enters third year of existence
The involvement of civil society was seen as the
main innovation in the new EU approach to its
Eastern neighbours called Eastern Partnership
(Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia
and Azerbaijan) and the Civil Society Forum
was set up to achieve it.
Entering its third year
of existence, the CSF did not advance in this
direction too much so far which should have
been observed at the Poznan meeting at the end
of November. The most awaited decisions on the
new concept paper, legal registration and statute
were deferred to the new steering committee
elected by the Forum participants. » read more «
Entrepreneurs used already a quarter of the available OPPI fund
Czech entrepreneurs have already received over CZK25 billion out of CZK 90 billion from the Operational Programme “Entrepreneurship and Innovation” (OPPI). Only this year, entrepreneurs will receive over CZK 10 billion European subsidies from the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Lower energy bills or alternative sources of energy for entrepreneurs
Nearly thousand of Czech entrepreneurs will pay lower energy bills or produce energy from alternative sources thanks to support of Ecoenergy programme. Eco-energy programme, supporting investment in energy efficiency and use of alternative energy resources, is a part of Czech operational programme for entrepreneurship and innovation.
Special award for Olomouc
The City of Olomouc was awarded by special award within the Access City Award for its innovative information projects and communications. Its innovative projects such as multimedia travel guide and audio/video multilingual information help removing barriers for handicapped people and involving them in the life of the city.
Ten countries have agree d to develop the North-South energy interconnections in Europe
In November, ten countries from Central and Eastern Europe agreed to develop North- South interconnection of energy markets. Representatives from Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic together with the European Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding in which the States represent the political will and intention to cooperate in the preparation and implementation of infrastructure projects to complete regional market and energy security.
Industry warning against the loss of experts in the CR
Nearly 90% of Czech-German companies lack experts, mainly with vocational education. Moreover, according to them, the situation is not improving over time and if this trend continues, there is a danger that companies would start leaving the Czech Republic for other countries. The fact that the Czech Republic faces declining quality of vocational education results from low interest of previous governments in this part of educational system.
Commission closes its investigations concerning the military aircraft
The European Commission has closed the case against the Czech Republic for breaching EU public procurement rules when purchasing four military transport aircrafts in 2009.The Czech Republic has ensured that contracting authorities will in future limit the use of the derogation from public procurement procedures for military purchases to exceptional cases where this is necessary for the protection of its essential security interests.
