NEWS
Klaus says approval needed on EU Ireland guarantees
President Václav Klaus said yesterday that any package of legal concessions made to Ireland on the Lisbon Treaty would first have to be approved by the Czech parliament. The concessions are expected to be discussed at today’s EU summit. Prime Minister Jan Fischer said the package would have the character of an intergovernmental contract and would not require ratification. Ireland has asked for the guarantees in exchange for holding another referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
most Czech press
Klaus leads first-ever EU-Pakistan summit
President Václav Klaus led a historically first EU-Pakistan summit in Brussels yesterday. Klaus met as head of the Czech EU presidency with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. Klaus said Pakistan needs both immediate and long-term support and called on the EU to open up its markets. Klaus also met with Jordanian king Abdullah II.
LN 8, Pd 8
Cabinet approves EU summit mandate for PM
Governmental committee on EU unanimously approved a mandate for Prime Minister Jan Fischer’s participation at today’s EU summit. Fischer said he would also launch informal talks on the Czech representative’s portfolio in the next European Commission.
ČTK, E15 3
ČSSD and KDU-ČSL to work together on some issues
The leaders of ČSSD and KDU-ČSL yesterday agreed to co-operate on several issues ahead of early elections in October, including medical fees, mergers involving health insurers and restrictions on gambling. ČSSD leader Jiří Paroubek said his party is considering strategic partners after the elections and he welcomed developments at KDU-ČSL.
LN 1, 4, HN 4
Ministry publishes handbook against neo-Nazis
The Interior Ministry today will present a handbook for town mayors that spells out legal conditions for banning and dispersing demonstrations organised by right-wing activists. The handbook also contains a calendar of anniversaries that are of significance to neo-Nazis.
HN 1, 5, MfD A4
Florenc has new coach terminal
A new passenger terminal was opened yesterday at the Florenc bus station. Construction was launched in October last year and cost CZK 70 million. The old terminal will continue operating.
most Czech press
Pro- and anti-Klaus demonstrators meet at castle
Some 150 people, both supporters and opponents of President Václav Klaus, held demonstrations yesterday at Prague Castle. Klaus’s opponents, part of the Už dost! (We’ve had enough) initiative, criticised the president’s stance on the Lisbon Treaty and the environment. Pro-Klaus demonstrators called their event DOST bylo Havla (We’ve had enough of Havel).
MfD A1, A2, LN 3, ČTK
Lower chamber overrides veto on anti-discrimination law
The lower chamber yesterday overrode President Václav Klaus’s veto and approved an anti-discrimination law. Without the law, the Czech Republic would have faced fines from the EU. The law bans discrimination in employment, business, education and healthcare, among other things.
LN 4, Právo 1, 2, ČTK
Domestic violence victims to get better protection
The Senate yesterday approved an amendment that would give courts more authority to help in domestic violence cases, including banning dangerous individuals from households for longer periods of time or stalking victims.
ČTK
IDs will retain address and marital status
The Senate approved an amendment yesterday that would retain information such as a person’s address, marital status and birth identification number as part of the central registry, despite some legislators warning the information could be discriminatory.
ČTK
BUSINESS
ČSSD to raise taxes on high earners
ČSSD yesterday confirmed plans to raise the tax rate on individuals earning over CZK 100,000 a month to 38% if the party wins the October elections. The party will apparently not publish its tax plans for individuals earning less. The higher tax revenue would be used to raise pensions as well as sick leave and maternity benefits.
most Czech press
ČNB’s Holman says lower rates could weaken currency
Robert Holman, a member of the ČNB board of trustees, told Hospodářské noviny that though there is room for the bank to lower interest rates, such a move could cause the currency to weaken significantly. He said it is possible the recession could last for a number of years.
HN 13, 20
Czech Top 100: Corporate profits fall
The Czech Top 100 association says profit and revenue at the largest Czech companies fell last year after years of growth. Untaxed profit plunged 15% to CZK 212 billion in 2008 from the previous year. Revenue fell 0.5% to CZK 2.44 trillion. A third of companies said revenue fell.
most Czech press
Three firms eyeing Staropramen acquisition
Euro quotes the British website Mail Online as saying three companies are interested in buying the Staropramen breweries that are part of the Anheuser-Busch InBev group. The site lists the British companies CVC Capital and TPG Capital as well as Kohlberg Kravis Roberts. Staropramen’s price is estimated at CZK 10 billion.
Euro.cz
Energy producers could continue getting emission credits for free
Energy-producing companies, including state-controlled ČEZ, might continue to receive their emission credits for free in exchange for investing in modernising production. The lower house approved such a proposal yesterday setting a deadline for submitting investment plans of March 2010 and partial realisation by 2011. Daniel Křetínský from J&T said the conditions are only acceptable for ČEZ and Miroslav Kalousek said the decision resulted from lobbying pressure.
most Czech press
ČEZ to invest in electric cars
Energy giant ČEZ is putting together a programme to develop small energy output sources and electric cars. ČEZ wants to invest CZK 500 million and start the pilot projects for electric cars in Prague and Ostrava by 2012.
E15 8, HN 16
Mortgages in May fall 36%
The volume of mortgages in May plummeted 36% year-on-year to CZK 6.8 billion, the worst May result in the past four years, according to Fincentrum Hypoindex. Hypoindex contains data from nine major banks. The economic downturn has affected the mortgage market more than experts expected, HN reports.
HN 16
Senate approves crisis package
The Senate yesterday voted to approve a package of crisis measures proposed by ČSSD that will allow for the introduction of a car-scrapping bonus as well as accelerate tax write-offs and extend unemployment benefits. The measures represent a compromise between ODS and ČSSD. The bill now goes to the president for signing.
HN 2, 16, ČTK
Lower house approves changes to euro-adoption process
The lower house yesterday approved an amendment to the so-called competence law that would change some legislative procedures for adopting the euro. The main change would be that the Finance Ministry, and not the Czech central bank, would present bills related to preparing the country for the eurozone.
ČTK
Measures would place highway construction in public interest
The lower house yesterday approved measures that would allow for almost all highway and motorway construction to be declared in the public interest at the expense of landowners. The measures were proposed at a discussion on accelerating construction of the R35 motorway.
ČTK
Senate approves bill on free movement of services in EU
The Senate yesterday approved a bill to enable the free movement of services within the EU and allow businesses to temporarily offer services in other EU countries based on permission from the home country. If signed by the president, the law would come into force at the end of the year.
ČTK
Aero to participate in Bombardier project
Aero Vodochody has signed an agreement with the Belgian-based company Sonaca to co-operate in the development and production of part of a wing for a new type of a Canadian Bombardier. The price of the contract might reach as high as USD 400 million.
Euro.cz
