Photo: government.gov.cr
The Czech army will probably have a heavy brigade armed with modern German Leopard tanks in the near future. The intention to negotiate their joint purchase with several European countries, led by Germany, was approved by the government of Petr Fiala at a meeting on Wednesday, 12 June 2024. It also discussed a new bill on housing support, an amendment to the Hunting Act and a proposal to amend the Civil Code to simplify divorce proceedings for spouses.
The Czech Army could have a heavy brigade armed with more than 120 Leopard 2A4 and 2A8 tanks by 2030. The government has approved the Ministry of Defence's intention to implement purchase of 61 Leopard 2A8 tanks with an option for 16 more tanks. In addition, the army already has 15 Leopard 2A4 tanks at its disposal, the same number will be donated by Germany in the near future and the Czech Republic wants to buy 15 more under favourable conditions.
"The security of the Czech Republic comes first. It is a big task. That is why today the government approved an important decision, namely joining the agreement on the joint acquisition of Leopard tanks to replace Soviet equipment in our warehouses. I would like to remind you in this context that the Government is spending two per cent of GDP on defence, as we promised in our programme statement. And not only are we putting this money into defence, but we are also modernising the army," stated Prime Minister Petr Fiala.
"Today's decision by the government does not mean that the government has given its consent to the purchase of the tanks, but the government has taken the necessary intermediate step to make it possible. Subsequently, by the end of the year, the Minister of Defence will submit a comprehensive paper on the terms of the purchase to the Government for decision. Today's decision is very important because it means a joint purchase with several countries, led by Germany, which is undoubtedly advantageous," specified the Prime Minister. "Involvement in joint purchases allows us to reduce the price from the start thanks to a quantity discount, but it also allows, and this is equally important, the involvement of Czech companies in the entire supply chain, which will be an essential part of the final agreement," added Prime Minister Fiala. For details, see press release of the Ministry of Defence.
At the same time, the government also approved new list of strategic projects of the Army of the Czech Republic. In addition to the already approved projects for the acquisition of 246 CV-90 tracked infantry fighting vehicle in 2023-2030 for CZK 59.71 billion and the purchase of 24 US F-35A Lightning II fifth-generation aircraft in 2024-2035 for CZK 105.90 billion, it has also added the purchase of German Leopard tanks and the acquisition of two medium transport aircraft. "We are modernising our military, increasing our security and defence capability and meeting our commitments to our allies." the Prime Minister pointed out.
The government discussed the proposal for a new the Housing Promotion Act. Its aim is to set up a systemic solution to the housing shortage in the Czech Republic that will work in the long term and will also serve as a means for effective setting of the necessary investments in housing. Among the most important points are the establishment of contact points for housing at municipalities with extended competence and the setting up of a system of allowances granted by regional authorities, which will motivate providers to provide support measures to persons in housing need. More in press release of the Ministry for Regional Development and in press release of the Ministry of Justice.
The Cabinet will also send to Parliament an amendment to the Civil Codewhich aims to simplify and speed up the process of dissolution of marriage and the adjustment of the minor child's circumstances for the period after the divorce. The Government proposes, inter alia, to abolish the general requirement to establish the causes of the breakdown of the marriage, to merge the proceedings for the dissolution of the marriage with the proceedings for the adjustment of the relations of the minor child after the divorce, and to set court fees that promote amicable and expeditious ways of resolving the affairs of the spouses and the child. The amendment is also intended to declaratively enshrine in the Civil Code the unacceptability of corporal punishment of children.
The government also discussed an amendment to the Act on certain measures in connection with the armed conflict on the territory of Ukraine caused by the invasion by the troops of the Russian Federation, the so-called lex Ukraine. It proposes to introduce a system of automatic renewal of the temporary protection status granted to refugees if the requirements set out in the law are met, instead of an annual amendment. For refugees with temporary protection who have already been living in the Czech Republic for a long time and meet other conditions, the government proposes to introduce a new, alternative status for special long-term residence, which will allow them to continue living in the Czech Republic according to the standard rules.
The cabinet also approved draft state budget expenditure on research, experimental development and innovation for 2025 and the outlook for the coming years. Next year, the state budget should allocate CZK 45.066 billion to support science, research and development, which is CZK 4.85 billion more than this year. Expenditure is expected to continue to grow to a planned CZK 48.044 billion in 2027.
The government also discussed draft amendment to the Hunting Actwhich, in response to the damage caused annually to forests and agricultural crops by overpopulated wildlife, introduces state-determined compulsory quotas for the killing of game and wild boar. It also sets new rules for better recording of shot and dead animals, as well as penalties for those hunting ground users who fail to meet the quotas. The amendment to the law will also strengthen the rights of hunting land owners in organising hunting grounds, fulfilling another promise made by the government in its programme declaration. More in press release from the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Cabinet also discussed Bill amending the Capital Market Enterprise Act, the Civil Procedure Code and the Anti-Discrimination Act to implement the European Directive on improving the gender balance among members of the boards of listed companies and related measures into Czech law. It also approved extension of the list of addictive substances a further set of semi-synthetic cannabinoids and their derivatives, in response to the actions of HHC and THCP sellers who try to circumvent the ban by offering alternative products that pose the same risk to human health as those already banned. The government has also appointed the new Chief Hygienist of the Czech Republic. MUDr. Barbora Macková, the current Director of the State Institute of Health, will become the Director of the State Institute of Health with effect from 15 June. She will continue in this position.
vlada.gov.cz/news.cz-JaV_07
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