The preparation of the construction of renewable energy sources in selected locations in the Czech Republic should not take more than a year. The Cabinet also approved an amendment to the law on emission allowances, which addresses, among other things, who will be the administrator of the proceeds from their auction in the Czech Republic, supported the acceleration of two key measures to increase the supervision of legal gun owners, and approved a replacement for the director of the Military Intelligence Service.
The government has approved the procedure to be followed in the Czech Republic identifying areas for accelerated deployment of renewable energy sourcesthe so-called acceleration zones. The relevant update of the Czech Republic's Spatial Development Policy will be prepared and discussed in a shortened timeframe due to the urgent public interest and the permitting processes for these projects will be accelerated and simplified.
"We know that we need to build more renewable energy capacity in the Czech Republic, we need more renewable energy, and we also know that it is not always easy to ensure its construction. That's why we have approved a change to make it much easier to build renewables," stated Prime Minister Petr Fiala.
The Government considers the definition of acceleration zones to be a strategically important process for the development of renewable energy sources in the Czech Republic, which requires close cooperation of state administration bodies led by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Regional Development and with regional and municipal governments. Acceleration zones will be defined in such a way as to avoid conflicts with other important public interests such as nature protection, protection of cultural monuments, air traffic requirements and state security.
"These will be areas where it will be possible to obtain fast-track permits for the construction of solar or wind power plants, for example. The aim of this is that the preparation and permitting for renewables in these acceleration zones will be ready within 12 months," said the Prime Minister. Renewable sources, together with nuclear power plants, will ensure energy security and sufficient affordable energy for the Czech Republic in the future. Further information includes press release of the Ministry of Industry and Trade or press release of the Ministry of the Environment.
The government also approved a replacement for the position of Director of Military Intelligence. Jan Beroun, whose ten-year tenure as director ends in October, will be replaced by Petr Bartovský, who has been working at the Military Intelligence since 2001, with the consent of the Government. "The replacement is planned, based on the fact that Lieutenant General Beroun will be completing his second term of office. I would like to emphasize that Director Beroun has done and continues to do an excellent job for our country and the Military Intelligence plays an important role in strengthening the security of the Czech Republic, especially in these very difficult times and in terms of the security and international situation." stressed the Prime Minister. More information in press release of the Ministry of Defence.
The Ministers also agreed draft amendment to the Act on the conditions for trading greenhouse gas emission allowanceswhich largely transposes new European directives into Czech law. The government has agreed that the proceeds from the auctioning of emission allowances will be revenue for the state budget until the end of 2025, and from 1 January 2026, subject to statutory exemptions, will be transferred to the budget of the State Environmental Fund. The funds from emission allowances will be used to finance measures to mitigate climate change and address its impacts, in accordance with European regulations. Read more press release from the Ministry of the Environment.
The government has also prepared draft amendment to the Weapons and Ammunition Act, which aims to put into practice as soon as possible two measures to increase supervision over owners of legally held weapons in the Czech Republic. In response to the tragic incident at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University, the Government has included in the new Weapons and Ammunition Act the obligation for entrepreneurs in the field of weapons and ammunition to immediately report suspicious transactions to the Police of the Czech Republic and has extended the possibilities of the Police of the Czech Republic to seize legally held weapons to cases where, on the basis of the information obtained, they suspect that their holder may pose a serious danger to internal order or security. However, both of these steps, as well as the entire new law, are not due to take effect until 1 January 2026. The government has now proposed to amend the current law so that these preventive security measures can be used by the police as soon as possible. That is also why it will push for the Chamber of Deputies to approve the amendment at first reading. More in press release of the Ministry of the Interior.
The government also discussed and approved Amendment to the Act on Certain Types of Support for Culture. The amendment intends to introduce the institute of the status of artist into Czech law, which should regulate the legal status of artists and other persons who perform activities directly related to artistic activities. These are artists who are not in a classical employment relationship but perform as self-employed persons. The state does not yet have the possibility to support this type of artist financially. Details include press release of the Ministry of Culture.
The Cabinet also proposed to the President of the Republic to appoint several officers to general ranks or promote them within the general ranks on the occasion of the national holiday on 8 May. "I have nominated two representatives of key security institutions for promotion. Firstly, the Director of the Security Information Service, Brigadier General Michal Koudelka, for promotion to the rank of Major General in recognition of his excellent achievements and international cooperation. And then also the promotion to the first general rank of Brigadier General of the Director of the General Inspectorate of Security Forces, Colonel Vit Hendrych. The General Inspectorate of Security Forces under his leadership, even though he has been there for a relatively short time, is functioning excellently, is credible and this promotion is appropriate," said Prime Minister Fiala.
The government also proposed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health has dismissed the Chief Hygienist and Pavla Svrčinová, Chief Director of the Public Health Protection and Promotion Section, at her request, with effect from 1 May 2024. The new Chief Hygienist will emerge from a selection procedure. More in press release of the Ministry of Health.
It also approved Public sector budget strategy 2025-2027 and the attached Convergence Programme of the Czech Republic (April 2024).
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