Prague officially space center and green for recovery plan – EURACTIV.cz
We bring you another brief overview of the most interesting things that took place in the European Union in the last month from the Czech point of view.
As part of the series Czech month in the EU we select significant events that no one would be interested in the European policy of the Czech Republic and events on the European continent in the Czech context should not miss.
Space agency in a new guise
At the beginning of September, the Prague European Union Space Agency (EUSPA) was inaugurated, transforming from the existing Agency for the European Global Navigation Satellite System (GSA). The change brings, for example, an expansion of the number of EU space programs that will be followed from Prague in the future. The government has promised that the space program and the associated technological development will be an increasing priority for the Czechia.
Money from the recovery fund on the way
At the beginning of September, the finance ministers of the European Union countries approved the Czech National Recovery Plan. Thanks to this, the Czechia was able to receive the first part of the 180 billion crowns to which it is entitled under the extraordinary EU renewal fund. In total, it can collect up to 13 percent of this amount as part of pre-financing projects this year, and it should receive the rest in the coming years.
However, as we warn the Czech opposition parties, the drawing of additional money from the fund may be threatened by an unresolved conflict of interest of the Prime Minister. Andrej Babiš.
The European Commission itself recommends that, although Czech mechanisms for avoiding conflicts of interest have improved, it still cannot be completely ruled out.
And what will the money from the renewal fund in the Czech Republic go to? In September, we launched a series of articles discussing the Czech National Recovery Plan.
Resolving the Turów case in sight
A dispute over the continuation of mining at the Polish brown coal mine Turów, which threatens water supplies in the Czech border, has not yet been resolved. Even by the end of September, the Czech and Polish parties are obliged to agree on a compromise text of the agreement, which would ensure an out-of-court settlement.
The Court of Justice of the European Union, meanwhile, is exchanging a fine of half a million euros (12.7 million crowns) a day for Poland for failing to temporarily stop mining and refusing to comply with a preliminary ruling issued by a court in May following a Czech lawsuit. Poland argues that a sudden cessation of mining could cause an environmental catastrophe and have significant economic consequences for the country.
Elections in the European context and the Czech Presidency
The turn of September and October was about the last efforts of political parties to persuade the Czechs to choose them in the elections to the Chamber of Deputies. EURACTIV.cz focused on the main topics related to the European Union in the programs of the most relevant parties, movements or coalitions.
The new government will concern the final organization and management of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU, which begins in the middle of next year. We have not forgotten about this topic either and have made recommendations.
From the priorities so far, it seems that the Czechia will focus during the presidency, for example, on the integration of the countries of the Western Balkans into the EU.
More interesting articles, interviews and podcasts from September
The Czech September in the EU was established with the use of the ČTK information service.