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From 2026, municipalities will be obliged to provide a place in a playgroup for children aged three and older who are not accepted by a catchment kindergarten. This is proposed by the government of Petra Fiala in an amendment to the Act on the provision of childcare services in a children's group, which was discussed at a meeting on Wednesday 22 May 2024. It also approved a draft amendment to the Air Protection Act, which aims to tighten air protection in the Czech Republic, and a government regulation that strengthens the rights of so-called vulnerable customers, following an amendment to the Energy Act.
The government of Petr Fiala wants to make it a little easier for parents of young children of pre-school age to return to the workforce. V amendment to the Act on the provision of childcare services in a children's group It establishes an obligation for municipalities to provide places in playgroups for children aged three and older who do not have a place left in the catchment kindergarten from 2026, or to compensate parents financially for the placement of their child in a preschool facility. More relaxed rules are to apply to playgroups set up by employers. The amendment also introduces the possibility of setting up a so-called neighbourhood playgroup for up to four pre-school children and also proposes to modify the conditions of the current parental allowance so that it is possible to place a child under the age of two in a childcare facility, educational establishment, etc. without a time limit.
The operation of the children's groups is financed from the state budget, while the construction and temporary operation of the children's groups can also be financed from European funds (e.g. from the National Recovery Plan or the Operational Programme Employment Plus). This year, the state plans to spend CZK 2.45 billion on the activities of children's groups, while in 2026 it will be CZK 3.2 billion. The government hopes to remove barriers to parents of young children returning to work more quickly while ensuring quality childcare. This would raise more money for the state through taxes and compulsory contributions from employed parents, while saving significantly on welfare payments. Details include press release of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.
The government also approved draft amendment to the Air Protection Act. The amendment aims primarily to improve air quality in cities and municipalities, advance the digitalisation of the related agenda and reduce red tape. The proposal envisages, among other things, extending the obligation to measure emissions continuously to other industrial sectors, introducing the obligation to report the results of such measurements electronically in virtually real time, setting minimum distances for residential developments from newly built potential sources of pollution and vice versa, and tightening dust limits for construction and demolition, especially in towns and cities. The amendment also increases the rates of pollution charges and facilitates the introduction of 'low emission zones' in municipalities. More in press release of the Ministry of the Environment.
The Cabinet also approved a new regulation which, following the amendment to the Energy Act effective from 1 January, regulates rules to protect vulnerable customers. The status of vulnerable customer, introduced by the amendment to the Act, applies to persons who necessarily need a device or aid dependent on a continuous supply of electricity to ensure their basic life functions. Such customers have been given special rights by the amendment to ensure that they do not unexpectedly find themselves without an electricity supplier. For example, their supplier will be obliged to notify them free of charge of non-payment obligations, of any reduction or interruption of electricity supply or of the imminent end of their contract, and will also have to provide them with continuity of electricity supply for three months under the conditions laid down by law. The government regulation specifies what kind of facilities are involved, the requirements for applying for vulnerable customer status or how long the issued certificate should be valid.
The government also dealt with the conduct of International Conference Prague Defence Summit The conference, organised by the renowned British think-tank International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), will take place in Prague in autumn and will focus on the evolving security environment, the development of defence capabilities in Europe, cooperation between governments and the defence industry, and the impact of new technologies on future conflicts. The government has agreed to provide €1.7 million to the organisers of this prestigious conference to ensure the independence of the event from potential sponsors, and state security forces will be involved in ensuring the safety of participants.
vlada.gov.cz/gnews.cz-RoZ_07
