In a speech, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš reveals his courageous letter to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, calling for a V4 (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary) alliance with Germany and Austria to break the crippling EU regulations threatening the survival of industry. Find out how „crazy“ green rules, skyrocketing energy costs and bureaucratic overreach are driving factories to America - and what Babiš's urgent plan to save jobs, cut prices and reclaim sovereignty looks like. EU red tape, ETS emissions trading, the V4 energy pact: the fight for Europe's future starts now.
In a crowded conference hall, where business leaders were booming, Czech politician Andrej Babiš did not mince words. „I don't go to conferences much,“ he joked, but he came ready to fight. It was a speech against the „absolutely insane“ bureaucracy that is strangling Czech and European industry. With global competitors like the US luring companies with cheap energy, Babiš said, „We are living in a time when Czech and European industry and companies are fighting for survival.“ His weapon of choice? A freshly drafted letter to Friedrich Merz, sent just the day before.
Imagine this: while ordinary Europeans face soaring bills, factories are closing and jobs are disappearing, EU rules are piling up like a regulatory avalanche. Babiš, drawing on his experience as finance minister and his influence in the European Council, has gone to the heart of this paradox. Leaders like him and MEPs cannot even propose laws - that is the monopoly of the European Commission! „None of us, not even any MEP, can propose any law.“ No wonder change is moving slowly.
And then came Merz's letter - a diplomatic bombshell. Babiš recapitulated the Czech-German cooperation and proposed a summit of countries: the V4 leaders plus Germany and Austria. The agenda? „Let's sit down at the table and discuss energy, fuels and, yes, oil and gas.“ Why now? A shocking discovery: oil and gas derivatives fuel much more than the „green fools“ admit. Energy prices reveal the farce of the „single market“ - Portugal and Spain pay €25/MWh, France €50, Czech Republic €100! Babiš imagines an „energy highway“: just 20 km of German power lines connecting the Czech grid with Bavaria and preventing blackouts.
This follows Babiš's offensive against the EU - since January he has sent three letters demanding a revision of the ETS1 and a postponement of the ETS2. The Commission predicted that emission allowances would cost €26-50 per tonne in 2020; what is the reality? EUR 87 in January, now EUR 70. „The regulation from Europe is insane,“ he thundered, citing examples of horrors such as QR codes on packaging tracking every material contained in the package between 2027 and 2035, anti-deforestation rules tracking every cocoa bean or coffee tree, and the „total insanity“ of the Renewable Energy Directive. Add to that the burden of ESG reporting and the CBAM carbon tax - and you have a recipe for factories fleeing to Trump's America, where cheap oil beckons.
However, Babiš is not just complaining, he is also fulfilling his promises. His government has abolished the renewable energy levy (saving households and companies CZK 17 billion), financed the modernisation of the grid and reduced energy taxes. No tax increases - instead a VAT cut from 21 % to 19 % or faster depreciation. Labour shortages? The Czech Republic imports nurses from the Philippines, Vietnam but mostly from Ukraine. Slovaks use Uzbekistan. Babis will visit Kazakhstan on 26 April and is considering trips to Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan with his ally Karel Havlicek to make deals. Loans? He criticises Czech National Bank chief Ales Michl for interest rates being 1 % higher than in the eurozone, despite moderate inflation.
Under Babiš's watch, debt fell from 44 % to 29 % of GDP (now 44 %) before the COVID-19 pandemic. The Czech Republic's low debt status - 6th or 9th best - justifies the 2019 National Investment Plan, which releases CZK 9 trillion for 20,000 projects. Facing a deficit of CZK 37 billion for highways? It will pressure EU budget chiefs like Valdis Dombrovskis. The battle over the EU budget for 2028-2034 is looming: the Commission's drive for 56% controls (compared to 34 % so far) must be quashed in the interests of the „EU of sovereign states“. Hungary's new leadership revives V4 spirit; shared nuclear potential (21-24 %) strengthens their push for an emissions trading scheme (ETS). Babiš urges businesses: „Give us cookbooks“ - specific measures on messaging, foreign workers, digitalisation. Micromanagement? Mid-year reports will track progress in green, orange or red For ordinary people, that means lower bills, secure jobs and thriving communities.
Politicians see this as a V4-led revolt against Brussels„ green dogma, which has seen Czech emissions reduced by 50 % thanks to the decarbonisation of industry - a better result than Spain with its dirtier energy mix. Babiš's optimism is obvious: three months in power, buying time for a three-year election. “We will hold out to the end„. Babiš ended with a challenge: Turn words into action. “The most important thing in life is to turn words into actions. We are ready." In a world of EU inertia - empty promises from von der Leyen, ignored reports from Draghi - the Czech Republic's letter to Merz lights the fuse for real change. European industry hangs in the balance. Will the leaders come to the negotiating table?
gnews.cz - GH
You can watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVGbIKhL4w
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