EC to initiate proceedings against Czechia for defence procurement violations

The European Commission has decided to initiate proceedings against Czechia for violating the EU's defence procurement directive when buying US military helicopters, the EC announced in a statement released on Wednesday. Czechia has been sent a formal notice for breach of an obligation under the defence procurement directive and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the EC said. Prague now has two months to respond and address the shortcomings highlighted by the Commission. According to the Czech News Agency, the breaches are related to the purchase of US military Venom and Viper helicopters for about CZK 17 billion, a deal which was signed at the end of 2019.