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Czechia must persistently and relentlessly fight for changes in the EU's emission allowance system, Deputy PM and Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlíček (ANO) said in Brussels ahead of today's meeting of the EU's industry ministers, where he intends to raise the issue. He already presented a six-point scenario on how to approach the change in the emission trading system at a morning meeting on energy-intensive industries.

Havlíček said it was encouraging that more countries are starting to discuss changes to the emissions trading system in a relatively rational way, and that the Czech position is gradually gaining traction.The downside, he added, is that the majority of states still do not want to change the system.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) also considers it his government's main task to fight for changes to emission allowances in the European Union.  Italy, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary support the Czech position calling for a change to the ETS1 emissions allowance system.

The Czech Republic is among the slowest countries in Europe when it comes to developing wind power, according to new figures from WindEurope (an association promoting the use of wind power in Europe). Across Europe, 19.1 gigawatts (GW) of new wind capacity were installed last year. The Czech Republic accounted for just 13 megawatts (MW) – a mere 0.07% of the total and only five new wind turbines were built in the country in 2025.

The country also lags behind in the share of its electricity generated by wind. The EU average is just over 19%, compared with around 1% in the Czech Republic generated by around 200 wind turbines nationwide, with a combined capacity of 372 MW.

The government is now preparing changes to its system of “acceleration zones” – designated areas where renewable energy projects, particularly wind and solar farms, can be approved more quickly. The new environment minister, Igor Červený (Motorists’ Party), has said the current set-up is flawed and has fuelled concerns among municipalities about uncontrolled development.

Directors of all four Czech national parks met with Environment Minister Igor Červený (Motorists' Party) and government climate envoy Filip Turek (Motorists' Party) to discuss funding amid planned budget cuts. For the two largest parks, the ministry has already proposed a contribution tens of millions of CZK lower than last year. The ministry said the reductions are needed to curb state spending. Following the meeting, Červený again emphasised that the cuts were necessary but stressed the parks would not be left unsupported. For now, the ministry expects the parks to draw on reserve funds.

However, concerns have been raised about how long these reserves can last, as well as over potential staff layoffs, reduced environmental education, and fewer public programmes. Environmental groups have warned that the proposed cuts could weaken protection of the country’s most valuable natural areas.

Červený confirmed there are no immediate plans to create a new national park.

People gathered in the village of Tupesy in south Moravia to honour the memory of Catholic priests Jan Bula and Václav Drbola, who were executed by the communist regime in the 1950s in connection with the so-called Babice case. A reliquary for the two men was also cast during the commemoration. Both priests were arrested before the murders of local officials in Babice and were later convicted in what historians describe as a fabricated trial. They were rehabilitated in 1990, and last year Pope Leo XVI approved their beatification as martyrs of the communist regime. The ceremony is scheduled to take place in early June in Brno.