The Government of the Czech Republic dealt with changes to the issuance of identity cards and passports and the system of terrorism threat levels

Changes to the issuance of ID cards and passports through an amendment to the laws on ID cards and travel documents were approved by the government of Petro Fiala at a meeting on Wednesday 5 February 2025. It also dealt with the revision of terrorism threat levels.

At the beginning of the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Petr Fiala informed the government in detail about the results of the informal meeting European Councilwhich took place earlier this week in Brussels. It focused mainly on strengthening Europe's defence and security, but also on EU relations with the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as on EU cooperation with NATO.

"Our biggest trading partners outside the European Union are the UK and the US," said Prime Minister Fiala and continued: "I am glad that during the informal meeting it became clear that the position that the Czech Republic and I personally have been advocating for a long time is gradually gaining ground in Europe. This is a greater emphasis on competitiveness, a greater emphasis on prosperity, an effort to extensively deregulate entire agendas in the EU so that we can compete internationally not only with the USA, but also with the rapidly developing economies of some Asian countries. On the main topic, which was strengthening defence and security, we discussed, among other things, the need to increase investment in defence, which helps to strengthen the EU's competitiveness, create jobs, and boost the economy and innovation potential."

Government approves amendment to laws on identity cards and travel documents. The amendment will bring a number of practical innovations for authorities and local governments, but also for citizens themselves. A significant change is the unification of procedures for ID cards and travel documents, for example for the taking of photographs. The amendment will also allow issuing a temporary identity cardto allow citizens to vote in elections or referendums if their ID card is lost or expired. The validity of such documents will be limited to the duration of the election or referendum, or in the case of multiround elections, to the duration of the relevant round of elections. It will also now be possible to expand the range of peoplethat can stand in for the applicant for a new document, and will be introduced Institute of passport suspension if a European Arrest Warrant has been issued against the holder. The amendment is pending discussion in the Chamber of Deputies and the Ministry of the Interior proposes that it will take effect on 1 January 2026. https://mv.gov.cz/clanek/novela-zavadi-prakticke-novinky-v-oblasti-osobnich-dokladu.aspx.

The government also discussed rthe revision of the terrorism threat level system. It will replace the current system from 2016, which no longer corresponded to the current international security situation. The Interior Ministry prepared it on the basis of the government's impulse from April last year. The new four-tier terror threat system gives the government greater flexibility and will allow it to announce measures appropriate to the situation. At the same time, the government has declared the threat level "B", which corresponds to the current security situation and the security measures currently in place. There is currently no imminent risk to the Czech Republic. For more information see the press release of the Ministry of the Interior - https://mv.gov.cz/clanek/vlada-schvalila-revizi-systemu-ohrozeni-terorismem.aspx.

Government of the Czech Republic/ gnews - RoZ