Download Breakfast Brief in PDF »
NEWS
Čunek’s case to be re-examined
The High Court has ordered to reopen the case surrounding KDU-ČSL leader and former Minister for Regional Development Jiří Čunek to examine a ruling last year by judge Vojtěch Cepl, who determined that various persons had tried to manipulate the investigation. The High Court said the judge had made a number of mistakes and the case would be assigned to another judge.
most Czech press
Prague budget funding non-existent projects
The Prague budget this year includes CZK 10 million originally earmarked for a project to provide the city with free wireless internet access but which was later stopped by the EU as unfair competition. Another CZK 100 million was to build a toll system to limit traffic congestion, which is not allowed under Czech law.
HN 5
Transport Ministry opposed to tree felling
Transport Minister Petr Bendl has joined with Environment Minister Martin Bursík to save the trees that line Czech roadways and are earmarked for felling. Bendl is planning to put together a map of the roads affected, including the number of trees and their state. The Transport Ministry oversees just 2,000 of 15,000 trees to be felled and has appealed to regional governments to join the proposal.
most Czech press
Court upholds Chomutov policy of seizing debtors’ assets
The district court in Chomutov has dismissed three proposals to halt the city from seizing the social benefits of people who owe the city money, mostly for overdue rents, officials said Tuesday. Chomutov has confiscated the social benefits of some 50 individuals.
ČTK, iDnes.cz, Právo 3
Poll: ODS cuts into ČSSD’s lead
If elections were held in February, ODS would win 36.4% of votes, 5.1 percentage points more than in January, according to a recent Median poll. Some 38% people would vote for the opposition ČSSD. KSČM would come third with 11.6%.
Právo 1, 2
150 people demonstrate in support of Tibet; Greens fly Tibetan flags
Some 150 people demonstrated in front of the embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Prague in support of Tibet to mark the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising. The Green party deputies’ club as well as the environment and education ministries, headed by Green ministers, flew Tibetan flags from their office windows. The Foreign Ministry said the EU-China summit scheduled for May would not be affected.
most Czech press
Woman confirmed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease but not BSE
A 60-year-old woman from Bílina, originally suspected of contracting the human form of BSE, has instead been diagnosed with another type of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease not related to BSE, Jiří Vondra, a spokesman of the Teplice hospital said. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a degenerative neurological disorder that affects mostly the elderly.
MfD A5, Právo 1, 3
Most Czechs approve of ČR’s NATO membership
Some 76% of citizens approve of the country’s membership in NATO and 70% consider it the best way to secure the country’s safety, according to a poll conducted by STEM at the beginning of February. ČR will celebrate 10 years of NATO membership on 12 March.
Právo 2
BUSINESS
EU decision could see lower VAT on some services
EU Finance Ministers agreed Tuesday that states could lower VAT for some services. Czech Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek, who led the meeting, said locally the decision could mean reducing VAT for restaurants from 19% to 9% as of 2010. Other services that could be affected include hairdressers and repair shops for shoes, clothing and bikes. Kalousek said in some cases, the lower VAT would apply only for the duration of the crisis.
most Czech press
Labour Ministry to partially cover wages in distressed firms
According to a proposal by Labour Minister Petr Nečas to be announced this week, the state will pay 20 percent of the wages for employees working for certain companies that have seen a drop in orders and who are attending special training sessions, Aktuálně.cz reported. Some 60% of the wage bill will be paid by the company. Nečas is planning to draw the money from EU subsidies.
Aktuálně.cz
Health Ministry proposal would merge two insurers
Health Minister Daniela Filipiová on Tuesday proposed merging two insurance companies in which the state has a majority stake as a way of helping the insurers survive the economic crisis. The insurers are Vojenská zdravotní pojišťovna and Zdravotní pojišťovna ministerstva vnitra ČR. The cabinet could decide on the merger at a meeting Monday.
Aktuálně.cz
Bendl cancels railway tender
Transport Minister Petr Bendl told reporters yesterday he would cancel a CZK 36 billion tender for track maintenance that was called by his predecessor Aleš Řebíček and the Railway Infrastructure Administration (SŽDC). Bendl said he would reset some of the parameters of the bid and that he doubts any one winner could manage all of the work.
HN 2, E15 4
PSE and Czech crown rise
Shares on the Czech stock market yesterday rose after several days of falling, with the main PX index gaining 3.09% to 660.2 points. Jan Korb from Patria Finance said the rise could be short-lived since the economy is not improving. The Czech crown yesterday strengthened for a third day, reaching CZK 26.92 to the euro.
HN 13, 20, MfD B1
Competitor making life hard for Aero
AgustaWestland, an Italian-British joint venture that lost to Aero Vodochody in a bid to acquire Polish helicopter maker PZL-Świdnik SA, could pull out of a deal to produce helicopter parts and co-finance a new production line if PZL-Świdnik signs with Aero, which could threaten the acquisition, Hospodářské noviny wrote. Matthew Harvey, the head of the Polish branch of AgustaWestland, said its agreement with PZL-Świdnik allows for such an option.
HN 15
Prices for smaller flats holding up
Mexx Reality chief Josef Šinágl said young people are opting for smaller flats because of the economic crisis. Prices for these flats have risen 2.5% since September, while prices for two-room flats have fallen 5.1% and three-room flats 8.4% in the same period, Hospodářské noviny wrote.
HN 17
Court starts insolvency proceedings against Hochtief CZ
A Prague City Court has launched insolvency proceedings against the construction company Hochtief CZ on behalf of a complaint filed by the firm Mramor Slivenec, whom Hochtief CZ allegedly owes CZK 1.17 million. Hochtief said the company’s demands are not well-founded.
MfD B3, ČTK
New owner of Karlovarský porcelán could get state help
The state could help a potential new owner of the bankrupt porcelain maker Karlovarský porcelán by providing a bridging loan, Labour and Social Affairs Minister Petr Nečas said Tuesday.
ČTK
Majority of companies see drop in orders
Seventy percent of companies on the Czech market saw a decline in orders in February compared with levels in September, according to a poll by the Czech Chamber of Commerce of more than 1,000 companies. The head of the chamber, Petr Kužel, said companies see the economic situation as “almost catastrophic”.
ČTK
UPC targets companies
UPC, the cable telecommunications provider, in two months is planning to target companies with packages offering a combination of TV, internet and telephone. Companies would be allowed to deduct the expenses from their taxes.
HN 13, 16
Council member: Czech GDP could fall more than 2%
Michal Mejstřík, a member of the national economic council (NERV), told Patria.cz that if the anti-crisis plan is not approved in its present form, the Czech economy could contract by more than 2% this year. If the plan is approved, he said, the drop in GDP would probably be around 2%.
ČTK
Topolánek sees future in nuclear energy
Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek told an energy conference on Tuesday that nuclear power must be part of the future of the Czech energy sector, along with other low-emission technologies.
most Czech press
