Europeum

National Convention on the EU: Strategic Compass

September 19, 2022

Our Researcher Daniele Piatkiewicz and Office Manager Alexandra Ilková have produced a background paper for the roundtable of the National Convention on the EU, presenting the questions to be discussed: how will the implementation of the Strategic Compass contribute to shaping the EU's defence capabilities and how can the EU Strategic Compass and the NATO Strategic Concept make the EU a stronger and more capable guarantor of security? How will the Strategic Compass address current and emerging security threats within the strategic areas of competence? What can CZ PRES achieve in the implementation of the Strategic Compass?

ČRo Radiožurnál: Who is to blame for expensive energy? Germany's influence is being demonised, says analyst

September 12, 2022

At an emergency meeting of EU ministers called by the Czech Republic, ministers came up with proposals on how to tackle rising energy prices in the EU. The meeting was an important demonstration of European unity, says our senior research fellow Kateřina Davidová. At the same time, Davidová points to the overestimated and often demonised impact of Germany's nuclear exit on the energy situation.

iDNES.cz: One-day vignette from 2024. The price will be determined by an increased annual vignette

August 26, 2022

The head of our Brussels office, Žiga Faktor, provided a commentary to the news portal iDnes.cz on the topic "One-day vignette from 2024. The price will be determined by the increased annual vignette". Since 2017, a proposal for a mandatory toll system in the EU has been in the works, so that trucks would pay only according to the number of kilometres driven. However, the changes also affect cars, specifically by introducing a one-day vignette. The price of the one-day vignette has not yet been set, but according to European regulations it must not exceed nine percent of the annual toll. The final price of the one-day vignette therefore depends on the annual motorway toll. Its implementation can be expected in 2024.

EURACTIV: Bosnia prepares for elections, but will go nowhere without reform. Not even closer to the EU

August 18, 2022

The head of the Brussels office Žiga Faktor commented for EURACTIV. What are the chances of reforming the electoral system in Bosnia? How should parties work on it and what should it include? According to Žiga Faktor, it must not only reflect political proposals and ambitions, but it is necessary to think about what citizens themselves want and how the reform will affect them.

Gas in numbers | European gas solidarity: where does the Czech Republic stand? | UPDATED

December 01, 2022

European Union countries are facing a period of gas consumption cuts. Although the proposal agreed by Member States aims for a voluntary reduction of 15% in consumption in the coming months compared to the average of the past five years, the pressure for even greater savings will grow. And not only in natural gas consumption, but also in electricity. Our researcher Michal Hrubý has written an overview of gas and its use in the Czech Republic, in which he highlights the need for savings to help us get through this year's heating season and answers several questions related to gas consumption. Where does the Czech Republic stand on gas? What are our supplies and where to get new capacity? And how can we save for next winter? These questions are also answered in the review. We will update the overview gradually (originally published on 1 August 2022).

EURACTIV: Reform of European elections or the whole EU. Czech Presidency opens sensitive topics in Prague

July 18, 2022

The Czech Republic, in its role as the presiding country, will have to deal with the European Parliament's proposal to launch the so-called Convention - the process of treaty change. Minister Bek announced that he would send a questionnaire to his European colleagues to find out which proposals could be implemented with or without changing the Treaties. Our researcher Zuzana Stuchlíková commented on the questionnaire initiative for Euractiv.

iDnes: Have you banned combustion engines? Tax electric cars and abolish subsidies, Focus urges

July 01, 2022

Our research fellow Michal Hrubý is quoted in an article by iDnes.cz, which reports on the wave of emotions among motorists brought about by the recent approval of a ban on the sale of new cars and light commercial vehicles with internal combustion engines by the European Parliament. The German magazine Focus has come up with a series of proposals for politicians in this context, dominated by the message: 'There is no reason to subsidise electric cars, but rather to tax them'.

EURACTIV: Success for the second time. MEPs agree on reform of emission allowances

June 23, 2022

Our researchers Kateřina Davidová and Michal Hrubý are quoted in the Euractiv article. In their quotes, they comment on proposals for potential changes to the emissions trading system.

iDnes: Even nuclear energy and gas? Europe faces a key clash over what counts as green

June 22, 2022

Our Senior Research Fellow Kateřina Davidová commented for iDnes.cz on the EU taxonomy proposal that was rejected last week by two key committees of the European Parliament. They are concerned that nuclear energy and natural gas should be among the sustainable resources.

Seznamzpravy.cz: A blow to the Czech car industry? MEPs approve end to internal combustion engines

June 09, 2022

In connection with the approval of the proposal to ban the sale of cars with internal combustion engines after 2035, Michal Hruby's commentary for the Seznam Zprávy news website is an optimistic view of the future that awaits us with electric cars.