In the Media

Several controversial names have also emerged among the candidates for the new European Commissioners. The final shape of the European institution will probably not be known for several months. For Slovakian STVR commented Viktor Daněk, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has already decided on key positions in her new team. The energy portfolio should go to Czech Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Sikela, the Die Welt website reported citing its sources. Prime Minister Petr Fiala will not comment on the information, a government spokeswoman said. Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for ČT24.

Transport costs may become more expensive under the new emissions trading scheme, which will hit low-income households hardest. But the so-called transport poverty need not only be financial. It is also about infrastructure accessibility and physical usability. Rebeka Hengalová, researcher at EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Ekolist.cz.

A household is at risk of transport poverty if it either spends a large proportion of its budget on transport needs, cannot meet all its transport needs, or has no cheaper alternatives to private or public transport. According to a study by the analytical institute STEM, on average three percent of households in the Czech Republic are at risk of this situation. Rebeka Hengalová, a researcher at EUROPEUM Institute, comments for Hospodářské noviny.

Emissions from road transport currently account for 29 per cent of all EU emissions, according to the latest Transport&Environment study. The problem is also that, unlike other sectors, emissions from transport have not been falling; on the contrary, they have been rising since 1990 and are at least beginning to stabilise. In the Czech Republic, transport emissions have increased by 62 per cent since 1990. Rebeka Hengalová, researcher at EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Dopravní noviny.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen already knows almost all the candidates for her future team. The deadline for member states to make their views known ends on Friday, August 30. In July, the EU chief executive asked member states to propose both, a man and a woman so that she will have an equal representation in the Commission. So far, only Bulgaria has heeded the EC chief's request and as the only country offered both a man and a woman. Also, the Lithuanian candidate has not been officially nominated, but his name has been mentioned in some media. For ČT24 comments Žiga Faktor, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute.

25 of the 27 EU Member States have already nominated candidates for the new European Commission. So far, 17 are men and 7 are women. According to the President of the European Commission Ursula von den Leyen, only Bulgaria has nominated both a man and a woman. The President also confirmed that there will be a new position of European Commissioner for Defense. Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Slovakian STVR.

The Czech Republic wants a strong, preferably Economic portfolio in the future European Commission. But this is what all Member States are seeking. Europe is now facing hectic talks and tug-of-war. Martin Vokálek, Executive Director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Voxpot.

US company Westinghouse and France's EDF have filed a complaint with the Czech Office for the Protection of Competition over the selection of South Korea's KHNP in the country’s 16bn euro tender to build two new reactors at the Dukovany nuclear power plant. Rebeka Hengalová, an analyst at EUROPEUM Institute, commented for bne IntelliNews.

Ursula von der Leyen has asked EU Member States to send her two names of candidates for the post of Commissioner in the European Commission, one man and one woman, so that she can create a balanced team. The Czech Republic ignored this request and proposed only Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Síkela for the post of EU Commissioner. Viktor Daněk, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Český rozhlas Plus.

By postponing the approval of emission allowances for households, the Czech Republic is harming itself. If the permits are not approved, the Czech Republic will have to come up with other instruments to achieve climate neutrality. Kateřina Davidová, Senior Research Fellow at EUROPEUM Institute, commented on this issue.

Intense behind-the-scenes negotiations are currently underway in Brussels over the allocation of 27 positions in the new European Commission, which will once again be led by Ursula von der Leyen. The German politician faces two major challenges: the limited number of strong economic portfolios, which many member states, including the Czech Republic, are vying for, and the effort to create the first-ever gender-balanced Commission, complicated by the predominance of male candidates. The situation was commented on for e15 by Žiga Faktor, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute.