The Government of the Czech Republic approved changes at its meeting that are intended to tighten conditions for individuals with temporary protection, strengthen controls on irregular migration, and at the same time accelerate key projects for the digitalization of the state. The Cabinet also discussed new registers in education, support for the Strategic Business Park Cheb, an extension of measures to regulate fuel prices, and changes in the organization of certain government agencies.

One of the main topics of discussion was a draft amendment proposed by the Ministry of the Interior. It affects seven legal regulations, including three laws known as the "lex Ukraine," the Asylum Act, the Act on the Stay of Foreign Nationals, the Criminal Code, and the Code of Administrative Procedure. According to Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, this is in line with the program statement of the Government of the Czech Republic.

"We are tightening the conditions for granting temporary protection, as stated in the program statement of our government," Babiš said.

The amendment includes provisions such as the possibility of revoking temporary protection status if an individual spends more than 30 days outside the Schengen area. A similar penalty could also apply if the individual commits a serious crime in the Czech Republic for which deportation is a possible punishment. The registration of vehicles with Ukrainian license plates is also to be tightened.

Another important decision by the Government of the Czech Republic was the approval of a system for managing strategic programs and projects in the field of information and communication technology. The Cabinet selected 55 of the most important programs and projects, based on the government's program statement and existing legislation. Each of these projects will have a designated responsible manager.

"We have selected 55 of the most important programs and projects based on the government's program statement and legislation, and we have defined how they will be managed. A manager will be responsible for each of these projects, and we have appointed those managers today. Projects that directly benefit people and businesses are important to us," the Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš emphasized that one of the main priorities is the digitalization of healthcare. He specifically mentioned the e-referral system, which is intended to help track waiting times for specialist examinations, and a new electronic health card, which will record a patient's medical examinations. He also included the EET 2.0 project. According to the Prime Minister, information about all 55 projects is available on the website digitalnicesko.gov.cz.

The Government of the Czech Republic also discussed a draft new law on registers in education. The law proposes the creation of a register of students and a register of pedagogical and academic staff, which will be part of the Information System for Education. The registers are intended to map individuals' progress through the education system and to provide data on pedagogical, academic, and scientific staff. They are also intended to guarantee the completeness and accuracy of the data that can be used by other state and public administration bodies.

The Cabinet also decided to expand the list of privileged industrial zones to include the Strategic Business Park Cheb. The site in the structurally disadvantaged Karlovarský region covers an area of 142 hectares and is being prepared by the State Investment and Development Agency. Inclusion in the list of state strategic locations will allow investors to be offered a wider range of investment incentives and will support the development of the entire Cheb region.

The government of the Czech Republic has extended two measures until June 30th, both aimed at maintaining acceptable fuel prices at Czech gas stations. The first measure involves a collective exemption from a portion of the excise tax on diesel fuel, which reduces the rate to the minimum level set by the European Union. The second measure continues the regulation of maximum prices for the most common types of fuel, namely Natural 95 gasoline and diesel fuel without additives, including the maximum permissible profit margin for retailers. The rules for calculating the price ceiling and the level of the profit margin remain unchanged. Following a previous decision to transfer certain departments from the Office of the Government to specialized ministries, the government also approved the establishment of two offices for government commissioners within the Office of the Government. Starting July 1, 2026, an office for the government commissioner for human rights and the protection of minorities, and an office for the government commissioner for mental health and addiction, will be created. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš stated that the government advisory bodies will remain within the Office of the Government, and inter-ministerial coordination will be maintained. The transfer will only affect civil servants whose departments will now operate within the specialized ministries. The government of the Czech Republic has also adjusted the institutional framework for the agenda of gender equality, which will now fall under the Ministry of Justice instead of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. gnews.cz - GH