Prague wants to show that it is playing on foreign climate policy
11.04.2022 16:21:00
The main city of Prague is preparing for the Czech presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of this year.
Today, Prague councilors approved a thematic priority and events that will help raise the profile of the capital, its priority and the modernization it has undergone in recent years.
The Council of the Capital City of Prague approved an overview of activities that, in cooperation with partners, they are preparing for the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU (1 July – 12 December 2022). This event represents a major unique opportunity for the city to present the rest of Europe on its own. The city will organize the events both in-house and in cooperation with its organizations and external partners.
“Prague wants to show that it will continue to focus on interesting climate policies leading to increased energy self-sufficiency, smart solutions, culture, education, science and innovation. The presidency is also an opportunity to recall the concrete benefits of EU membership for Prague residents. These are, for example, money for infrastructure development, such as new tram lines, P + R car parks, electric buses and trolleybuses, but also new kindergartens and children’s groups and the like. An equally important benefit, especially at this time, is the protection of democratic values, ”says the mayor of Prague, Zdeněk Hřib.
During the presidency, the capital will organize or support a large number of cultural and educational events or political meetings, conferences or summits. At the turn of June and July, for example, a weekly awareness-raising event at the beginning of the Czech presidency (discussions, presentation of EU-funded projects, etc.) or a joint event with Paris, the capital of France, from which the Czech Republic will take over the presidency, will be held in public. The plan is to connect experts and artists from Prague and Paris, the topic will be upcycling and sustainable fashion and design.
In July, the prestigious external meeting of the COTER Commission (Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and the EU Budget) will present itself in Prague. In September, the city plans to host a direct dialogue between European mayors and top European Commission officials on sustainability and energy independence. This will be followed by the Free Cities Pact Summit, which will focus on cooperation in helping Ukraine, Kiev and the mild consequences of the wars in the member cities of the Pact. Climate Talks with European and Czech cities and towns is also produced in September.
Thanks to the presidency and the attention that will be focused not only on the Czech Republic but also on Prague, it is possible to communicate very effectively the modernization of Prague, which it has undergone in recent years. The proactive involvement of Prague during the Czech Presidency, together with its readiness to promote key European issues (eg the Climate Commitment), sends a signal to European partners that Prague is a reliable partner that can take a number of steps to pursue more flexibly and quickly than the national government. The issue of the importance of direct financing of cities is a key element for the further development of Prague.